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The San Francisco 49ers hold the top spot in the NFL power rankings as Week 6 approaches, boasting a 5-0 record. Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, the team is aiming for its second 6-0 start, having previously achieved the feat in 2019. Shanahan is chasing his third Super Bowl appearance and his first championship ring.
What stands out most about these Niners is their resilience in the face of injuries and their dominance within the rugged NFC West. They have already defeated three teams that won at least 12 regular-season games in 2025. However, concern arose on Sunday when quarterback Brock Purdy was sacked three times and hit nine times by Seattle, marking the first time he has been sacked this season. The team must protect him better moving forward.
Chiefs Hold Steady at No. 2
The Kansas City Chiefs remain second after their bye week. They now enter another bye before their schedule intensifies with tougher opponents. Help at wide receiver is on the way, though not from Tyreek Hill just yet. For now, reliable veteran Justin Watson is returning to the practice squad.
Seahawks Stay Third Despite Mistakes
The Seattle Seahawks cling to the third spot despite a sloppy performance. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw two more interceptions, the depleted running back corps fumbled twice, and even Jaxon Smith-Njigba dropped a key pass while wide open. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV was seen defending Darnold literally on the field. The loss mirrors last year's defeat in Los Angeles, which sparked a 12-game winning streak that ended just two weeks ago. Expect the Seahawks to bounce back soon.
Broncos, Jaguars Round Out Top 5
The Denver Broncos stay at No. 4. The offense showed little life in Sean Payton's first week back calling plays, but the defense appears to be rounding into form for a team poised for a resurgence.
The Jacksonville Jaguars climb to No. 5. Among AFC quarterbacks, only Lamar Jackson has a better passer rating than Trevor Lawrence, who has developed a sublime connection with wide receiver Parker Washington. The defense might be the real story, as only the Vikings have allowed fewer points than the Jaguars.
Patriots, Bills Climb
The New England Patriots rise to No. 6. Quarterback Drake Maye has rediscovered his MVP-caliber form over the past two weeks after a rough September. With wide receiver A.J. Brown potentially returning as soon as Sunday against the Jets, Maye could elevate his game even further.
The Buffalo Bills move up to No. 7. Quarterback Josh Allen has proven he can win in overtime. The question is whether he can do it in January or even February. Monday night's thrilling victory over the Rams could be worth far more than just a Week 5 win.
Rams Slide, Vikings Hold
The Los Angeles Rams drop to No. 8. They are still just good enough to be beaten by their own defense and special teams. The return of Myles Garrett could change that, but the Rams need to climb out of their current hole soon. If the season ended today, they would miss the playoffs.
The Minnesota Vikings remain at No. 9. They allow the fewest points per game, the lowest EPA per play, and boast the best turnover differential (+6). They also rank third in pressures (87) and tied for third in sacks (17). Quarterback Kyler Murray is showing signs of returning to his Pro Bowl form. The bye week came at an inopportune time, but this team is dangerous.
Bears, Panthers, Lions on the Rise
The Chicago Bears stay at No. 10. Sunday's loss at Lambeau Field should be forgotten. Injured quarterback Caleb Williams appears close to returning for a team that held up well without him.
The Carolina Panthers jump to No. 11. They emerge from their bye week with the league's top-ranked passing offense. The diversity of that attack is notable, with wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan leading a group of five Panthers who already have double-digit receptions.
The Detroit Lions climb to No. 12. Quarterback Jared Goff has thrown for 13 touchdowns without a single turnover through five weeks. That is MVP-caliber production.
Ravens, Falcons, Raiders, Browns
The Baltimore Ravens rise to No. 13. Head coach Jesse Minter praised rookie Vega Ioane, who was drafted as a guard but has already started twice at center due to injuries. Minter said, "I don't know who votes for rookie of the year and all that stuff. But he's a very, very impactful rookie for our team that's done things that I don't know that any rookie's ever done."
The Atlanta Falcons stay at No. 14. Left tackle Jake Matthews started his 200th consecutive game on Sunday night. The 13th-year veteran also failed to catch his first career reception, which would have been a touchdown, hurting his team in an overtime loss. It was a stain on the Matthews legacy, but we kid, Jake. Next time.
The Las Vegas Raiders fall to No. 15. Their 3-0 start was cute, but they are fading fast as they hit a brutal stretch of their schedule. Do not be surprised if the Silver and Black are 4-8 when they reach their Week 13 bye, which could mean more Fernando Mendoza cameos.
The Cleveland Browns drop to No. 16. Rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston leads the league with 20.6 yards per reception. His three touchdown catches have averaged 43.3 yards in length.
Steelers, Bengals, Packers, Saints
The Pittsburgh Steelers move up to No. 17. They may need to rethink their timeshare approach with running back Jaylen Warren, who has produced 490 yards from scrimmage on 61 touches over the past three weeks as the primary backfield option.
The Cincinnati Bengals rise to No. 18. Given Chase Brown's production of 74 yards per game from scrimmage and 3.9 yards per touch, the team should inquire about the availability of Titans running back Tony Pollard.
The Green Bay Packers jump to No. 19. Their blowout win over the temporarily crippled Bears was their best showing of the season. Now, back to reality. Outside linebacker Micah Parsons will not return for Sunday night's battle with the Cowboys, and nose tackle Javon Hargrave joins linebacker Edgerrin Cooper as the second defensive starter to tear an Achilles in the past two weeks.
The New Orleans Saints fall to No. 20. They are inexplicably winless at home, now 0-3 at the Superdome. Fortunately, they will not return for a month, hitting the road for New York and Paris. They could use a visit from the Pope, though Leo does not use the #Saints hashtag in social media posts, which Pope Francis mistakenly did.
Jets, Giants, Buccaneers, Cowboys
The New York Jets climb to No. 21. Outside linebacker David Bailey is real and spectacular, even if No. 31 is a weird choice for a pass rusher.
The New York Giants fall to No. 22. With wide receiver Malik Nabers and tight end Isaiah Likely combining for 33 targets and 22 receptions on Sunday, defenses need not worry much that quarterback Jameis Winston is getting to his third read.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rise to No. 23. They are only 1.5 games out of first place in their perennially middling division and may have figured out that feeding running back Bucky Irving is the way to go.
The Dallas Cowboys drop to No. 24. At least they will not have to suffer the ignominy of facing their Parsons mistake up close and personal for a second straight season.
Colts, Texans, Eagles, Commanders
The Indianapolis Colts fall to No. 25. They have allowed 710 yards after the catch this season, worst in the NFL.
The Houston Texans rise to No. 26. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is on pace for 25.5 sacks, which would break Myles Garrett's nine-month-old record. Of course, Anderson could not have expected his Texans to be as bad as Garrett's Browns were.
The Philadelphia Eagles drop to No. 27. It might not feel like the clock is running out on their season if they knew what to do when the clock was running out on the field.
The Washington Commanders fall to No. 28. The same could be said for them.
Cardinals, Chargers, Dolphins, Titans
The Arizona Cardinals drop to No. 29. Credit to general manager Monti Ossenfort for getting a second-round pick back for wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., perhaps a very high second-round selection given how Houston has been playing.
The Los Angeles Chargers fall to No. 30. Thirteen turnovers, a league high in five games, will get you beaten every time. Literally. Every time.
The Miami Dolphins rise to No. 31. They are terrible and will remain that way for the rest of the season. But give them credit for fighting for first-year coach Jeff Hafley, which unexpectedly lifts them out of the power rankings basement.
The Tennessee Titans fall to No. 32. They are terrible and will apparently remain that way for the rest of the season. While they deserve credit for fighting for first-year coach Robert Saleh in recent weeks, the faux Oilers mailed it in against Houston on Sunday.
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Originally reported by usatoday.