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Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season showed us the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles remain the favorites to take down their respective conferences. After that? Things get dicey.
The upper-middle class of contenders is tangled in a web of letdowns and losses that have complicated still-unfolding playoff paths. The Green Bay Packers took out the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders to start the season 2-0, then saw their defense backslide and had blocked kicks cost them wins in the two weeks that followed. The Los Angeles Chargers started the season 3-0, then lost *another* starting tackle to injury and a chance to go 4-0 thanks to the efficient scrambling of New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. The Indianapolis Colts vacated their chance to remain undefeated behind Daniel Jones (!) thanks in part to Adonai Mitchell's wildly frustrating afternoon.
Thus, our Week 5 power rankings are a bit of a mess. Let's see if we can untangle that web and come up with something that makes sense as we overreact to less than a quarter of the 2025 NFL regular season.
Note: These rankings are being published before Monday Night Football. NFL teams playing on Monday night will have their rankings added after the fact accordingly.
32. Tennessee Titans
Last week: 31
Cam Ward thinks the Titans are butt (that's not what he said, but you know what I mean). Brian Callahan's team has also never overcome a halftime deficit. Start breaking out the mock drafts, Titans fans. If you value your health and sanity, you would do well to otherwise ignore your team for the rest of this fall. -- Robert Zeglinski
31. New Orleans Saints
Last week: 32
That's three covers in four games for the Saints, which is about as much as you could have realistically hoped for this season. Spencer Rattler is making himself some money, at least. Useful backup quarterback money, but still. - Christian D'Andrea
30. Cleveland Browns
Last week: 29
Are we sure the Browns couldn't at least give Shedeur Sanders SOME throws? Is this version of late-stage Joe Flacco really who they want to hang their hat on? This is a wasted season for Cleveland if they don't give someone else a look at quarterback. In fairness, could we really tell the difference from any of the Browns' recent history? -- RZ
29. New York Jets
Last week: 25
Breece Hall got it right. When other teams shoot themselves in the foot against the Jets, New York turns around and shoots itself in the head.
28. Carolina Panthers
Last week: 26
So much for all that Panthers "competitive" goodwill. Once again, Dave Canales's team is mired in last place. Once again, Bryce Young took a massive step back in a 29-point blowout loss to New England. Sigh. I'll see you all here next week when we get fooled by the Panthers' sneaky feistiness against the lowly Dolphins. -- RZ
27. Miami Dolphins
Last week: 30
Beating the Jets saves Mike McDaniel's job. Now he has the herculean task of rebuilding his offense without Tyreek Hill. If he can make Tua Tagovailoa a top 10 quarterback throwing to Jaylen Waddle, Darren Waller and Malik Washington he deserves to stick around.
26. Houston Texans
Last week: 23
It wasn't pretty and the offensive line is still thoroughly untrustworthy. BUT, a win's a win and Houston has a brighter light at the end of its tunnel. Routing the NFL's worst team is a start, but there's still a long way to go if DeMeco Ryans is going to make it three straight AFC South titles. - CD
25. New York Giants
Last week: 27
Jaxson Dart is the first quarterback in NFL history to win their first start over a team that was 3-0 or better coming in. Congratulations Giants fans (and Brian Daboll). Your team has something to build on. -- RZ
24. Las Vegas Raiders
Last week: 21
Geno Smith's 5.2 percent interception rate is higher than Jameis Winston's in his 2019 30-interception campaign. That's not the accurate, turnover-averse passer Pete Carroll thought he was reuniting with. Now Las Vegas has lost three straight and its opportunity to make waves in Carroll's first season as an up-and-coming 74-year-old is slipping away. - CD
23. Cincinnati Bengals
Last week: 16
At least it was nice of Jake Browning to leave zero argument about a quarterback battle in Cincinnati.
22. Dallas Cowboys
Last week: 28
For whatever grief we've given Brian Schottenheimer -- and there's been a lot -- he was absolutely on top of his game Sunday night. The Cowboys' offense was unique, interesting and -- importantly -- able to take Micah Parsons out of the game with double-teams and runs in the exact opposite direction from him. Dallas gashed Green Bay repeatedly without CeeDee Lamb in the lineup. That should provide hope going forward. - CD
21. New England Patriots
Last week: 24
Don't look now but Drake Maye is playing like one of the NFL's most efficient quarterbacks. That he's doing it at the helm of a severely undermanned Patriots team speaks volumes. As long as they stay patient with him, Mike Vrabel and Co. might have unearthed the next face of the franchise. -- RZ
20. Arizona Cardinals
Last week: 17
At what point do we concede Kyler Murray isn't special, at least as an Arizona Cardinal? His adjusted expected points added (EPA) through four weeks ranks 16th among starting quarterbacks, and while that's been unfairly maligned by drops from his receivers (hello, Marvin Harrison Jr.), it's not the difference maker Arizona is paying him to be. The Cardinals' defense has taken a step forward. Their offense isn't moving at the same pace. - CD
19. Chicago Bears
Last week: 22
Sunday felt like a turning point for Ben Johnson's Bears. In a game where they seemingly couldn't get out of their own way, the Bears did just enough to hang around and give Caleb Williams (and blocked-kick hero Josh Blackwell) a chance to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. Chicago still isn't good by any means, but these are the sorts of gritty wins that can be culture-shifters and much-needed confidence-builders for a group slowly coming together. -- RZ
18. Minnesota Vikings
Last week: 13
Oh, right. Carson Wentz. Ah well, at least he made it interesting toward the end. - CD
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week: 20
Somehow, someway the Steelers are 3-1.
Have they beaten anyone good? No. Is Aaron Rodgers playing all that well? Also, no. But for now, a Mike Tomlin team sits at the top of the AFC North. In other news, grass is green and water is wet. -- RZ
16. San Francisco 49ers
Last week: 10
Brock Purdy's return did little to ignite the offense, as he was at his best with a quick-hit playbook that limits the lift of a depleted offensive line in front of him. Those blocking woes aren't only manifesting in the passing game; Christian McCaffrey had just 49 rushing yards on 17 carries, putting even more pressure on the Niners' $265 million quarterback. - CD
15. Atlanta Falcons
Last week: 19
Is Michael Penix Jr. good? Maybe! Kinda! Sometimes! Atlanta simplified its offense with a lead and let Penix trust his instincts, crushing the intermediate range against the Commanders and protecting a lead for nearly 50 minutes. With the lighter lift of protecting a lead, Penix shined to prove his potential as a franchise quarterback. Now he just needs the consistency of one. - CD
14. Baltimore Ravens
Last week: 7
It is officially panic time for Baltimore. Not only are the Ravens 1-3, but they also might lose Lamar Jackson for an unclear (extended) amount of time to a hamstring injury. Woof. Whatever goodwill John Harbaugh has built up as the NFL's second-longest-tenured coach, he would do well to cash in on it over the next few weeks or so. -- RZ
13. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week: 18
Liam Coen has earned the right to trash talk. I mean, think about it. The man has the JAGUARS at 3-1 and tied for the AFC's second-best record. Just … what??? We can discuss the ethics of his apparent "legal" sign-stealing later. For now, I'm just marveling at a coach who has made the NFL's glorified cookie-cutter created Madden franchise relevant. -- RZ
12. Washington Commanders
Last week: 9
Jayden Daniels can't come back from his knee injury soon enough. There is a decided lack of explosiveness to the Washington offense when Marcus Mariota is steering the wheel. A Washington defense that just let a formerly ice-cold Michael Penix Jr. have his way is a different story. That's alarming. Ah, well, I'm sure matters will be different when there's a Commanders quarterback taking snaps who can actually press advantages. I think. -- RZ
11. Denver Broncos
Last week: 15
Smothering the Bengals would have been a lot more impressive if Joe Burrow were in the lineup. Thankfully we got to experience roughly six hours of that blowout as Sean Payton attempted to jump start Bo Nix by having him throw the ball 42 times.
10. Indianapolis Colts
Last week: 12
Adonai Mitchell had possibly the worst game any Colts' leading wideout ever has. Between dropping the ball at the goal line and holding on what could have been a game-winning 54-yard Jonathan Taylor touchdown run, he took two touchdowns off the board in a seven-point loss. Just brutal. Ah well, Daniel Jones still looks OK. - CD
9. Seattle Seahawks
Last week: 14
Perhaps Sam Darnold was actually a good fit for the Seahawks. (I am so, SO sorry, Geno Smith.) In Seattle, Darnold remains the same quarterback he's always been. That is, a young man with a strong arm that needs to rely heavily on play action and is better suited playing with a lead. As long as the defensively-minded Seahawks understand Darnold's limitations as a processor, there's no reason to believe Seattle can't keep stacking wins in the NFC West. -- RZ
8. Kansas City Chiefs
Last week: 11
Lamar Jackson's departure dims Sunday's victory a bit, but it's worth noting the Chiefs had kept him from creating big gains downfield and bullied him into a pair of turnovers before he left the game midway through the third quarter. While the run game remains a concern, Xavier Worthy provided a spark in the passing game and Patrick Mahomes responded with four touchdown passes. The AFC West appears to be wide open and 2-2 Kansas City is in position to benefit… again. - CD
7. Los Angeles Chargers
Last week: 3
After a promising 3-0 start, the Chargers are once again flirting with disaster. Already without standout offensive tackle Rashawn Slater for the season, the Chargers dodged a bullet with Joe Alt, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in Sunday's dispiriting loss to the Giants. Even still, it's really hard to see the Chargers looking nearly as dynamic as they can be if Alt has to miss any meaningful amount of time. For the Chargers' sake, they better hope their best active lineman can return to the field soon. -- RZ
6. Green Bay Packers
Last week: 6
Green Bay's genuinely bizarre clock management cost it a win in Dallas, both at the end of the first half and in overtime. I have no idea if this team is actually good or just a random event generator wrapped in green and gold. At the very least, the Packers are entertaining in a hate-watch way. - CD
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last week: 5
Baker Mayfield's ability to lasso chaos got the Bucs to 3-0. It couldn't extend to a fourth straight game, even if the gunslinger somehow put his best throws together after escaping pressure and extending plays beyond their logical end point. Ultimately, Tampa Bay was undone by fixable mistakes. Week 4 could be the motivating factor that propels this team to its fifth straight NFC South title. - CD
4. Los Angeles Rams
Last week: 8
Sunday was vintage Matthew Stafford. The veteran gunslinger completed roughly 75 percent of passes and averaged 8.3 yards per pass attempt against a helpless Colts defense. He was in complete control, utterly surgical. When Stafford is operating at this sort of peak capacity, the Rams are terrifying. In fact, with this version of Stafford, the Rams look like a team more than capable of capturing their second Super Bowl championship this decade. -- RZ
3. Detroit Lions
Last week: 4
After the Eagles and Bills, things get dicey with flawed teams and a spiderweb of interconnected losses. The Lions have bounced back nicely from their Week 1 stomping by the Packers, but concerns about the defense persist -- especially if DJ Reed misses extended time after leaving Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. Still, Detroit is equipped to win shootouts and that goes a long way in the NFL. - CD
2. Buffalo Bills
Last week: 2
The Saints put a brief scare into the crowd at Orchard Park, but that's been kinda their thing this season -- contending for longer than anyone expected before ultimately falling (and covering). Buffalo eventually pulled away behind three Josh Allen touchdowns and it's beginning to feel like his postseason breakthrough is inevitable, even if his defense is vulnerable. Especially on the ground, where New Orleans' 27th-ranked run game averaged 5.6 yards per carry in Week 4. - CD
1. Philadelphia Eagles
Last week: 1
A win is a win. When push comes to shove, that's all you can really say about the Eagles, who are now the NFC's only remaining undefeated team. After closing out another would-be NFC contender in the Buccaneers, Philadelphia's big-game experience continues to shine. Still, I'd be lying if the Eagles' offense wasn't at least somewhat concerning. The Eagles averaged just 3.4 yards per play and only barely managed 200 total yards of offense on Sunday. This sort of mix won't win in January if the champs can't find a way to fix it. -- RZ
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL Power Rankings Week 5: The Chargers? Cursed. Packers? Bizarre.
Reporting by Christian D'Andrea and Robert Zeglinski, For The Win / For The Win
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