2019 NFL Power Rankings - Week 5

1. New England Patriots (4-0): The Pats survived in Buffalo despite only scoring 16 points and gaining a total of 224 yards. Either the Pats are not as good as everyone thinks or the Bills are a lot better than everyone thinks. Next: -15.5 at Washington Redskins - Sun, Oct. 6

2. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0): Patrick Mahomes was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. He may have his star wide receiver Tyreek Hill back this week. Hill has been out since week one due to a clavicle injury. Next: -11 vs Indianapolis Colts - Sun, Oct. 6

3. San Francisco 49ers (3-0): The 49ers moved up in the power rankings by avoiding a loss due to a bye. They will be tested this week at home against the Browns, in a Monday Night matchup. Next: -3.5 vs Cleveland Browns - Sun, Oct. 7

4. Los Angeles Rams (3-1): For the first time since Sean McVay became head coach, the Rams are not in first place. The Rams threw 68 passes against the Bucs and ran the ball only 11 times. If they want to find a win this week, they need to find some balance in their offense. Next: +1.5 at Seattle Seahawks - Thu, Oct. 3

5. New Orleans Saints (3-1): The Saints are 2-0 without Dree Brees in the lineup. They have been riding their special teams and defense the past two weeks. When they get Brees back, they may emerge as the favorite in the NFC. Next: -3.5 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sun, Oct. 6

6. Seattle Seahawks (3-1): Who Is Will Dissly? He is a former Montana Gatorade Player of the Year, a starting tight end for the Washington Huskies, a 4th round pick of the Seahawks in 2018 and a new red zone favorite of quarterback Russell Wilson. Dissly has caught 19 passes in four games and has four touchdown receptions. Next: -1.5 vs Los Angeles Rams - Thu, Oct. 3

7. Chicago Bears (3-1): The Bears will be without quarterback Mitch Trubisky for the next few weeks. ESPN reported he suffered a dislocation and partial tear of the labrum. Chase Daniel will start in his place at quarterback this week. Next: -5 at Oakland Raiders - Sun, Oct. 6

8. Buffalo Bills (3-1): The Bills hung with the Pats for four quarters in their 16-10 loss at home. A 4th quarter concussion knocked quarterback Josh Allen out of the game. It would have been interesting to see if he could have brought the Bills back to win the game.Next: +3 at Tennessee Titans - Sun, Oct. 6

9. Dallas Cowboys (3-1): The Cowboys were finally tested this past weekend against the Saints, and they flunked their first test. The Saints held star running back Ezekiel Elliott to 35 yards on 18 carries in their 12-10 loss to the Saints. Next: -3.5 vs Green Bay Packers - Sun, Oct. 6

10. Green Bay Packers (3-1): The Packers got gashed on the ground in their loss to the Eagles at home on Thursday Night. The Eagles rushed for 176 yards. The Packers rushing defense will be tested again this week against Ezekiel Elliott. Next: +3.5 at Dallas Cowboys - Sun, Oct. 6

11. Detroit Lions (2-1-1): The Lions lost a close game to the Chiefs in Detroit. The Lions are proving to be very competitive, with all four games being decided by four points or less. Next: N/A at Green Bay Packers - Mon, Oct. 14

12. Houston Texans (2-2): The Texans are in a four-way tie for first place in the AFC South. In a wide-open division, stars like Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins and J.J. Watt may make the difference for the Texans. Next: -5 vs Atlanta Falcons - Sun, Oct. 6

13. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2): Melvin Gordon is back, and the Chargers have a dilemma. They want their star running back on the field, but they are also need to keep Austin Ekeler on the field. Ekeler has caught 24 of 25 targets and leads all NFL running backs with 270 yards in receiving. Expect to see Ekeler lined up in the slot and out wide on offense. Next: -6.5 vs Denver Broncos - Sun, Oct. 6

14. Minnesota Vikings (2-2): Both Vikings starting wide receivers are unhappy with their roles in the current run heavy Vikings offense. The Vikings seem to have little confidence in quarterback Kurt Cousins, who the Vikings want to be a game manager and minimize the quantity of passes thrown. Next: +11 at Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Oct. 6

15. Oakland Raiders (2-2): Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended for the 2019 season by the NFL for repeated violations of the NFL unnecessary roughness rules. The Raiders should have seen this coming. At Arizona State, Burfict was benched by head coach Dennis Erickson for an unusually high number of personal foul penalties. The former Corona Centennial star has not changed over the years. Next: +5 vs Chicago Bears - Sun, Oct. 6

16. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2): The Eagles ran the ball well in Green Bay, rushing for 176 yards in the road win over the Packers. The Eagles are becoming a run first team and that is understandable given their talented offensive line and their ability to play a two tight offense effectively. Next: -13.5 vs New York Jets - Sun, Oct. 6

17. New York Giants (2-2): Wide Receiver Golden Tate is returning from a four-game suspension, which should help rookie quarterback Daniel Jones. Saquon Barkley is also practicing this as well. His recovery from a high ankle sprain is going very well. Suddenly, this Giant team is looking much tougher. Next: +5.5 vs Minnesota Vikings - Sun, Oct. 6

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2): Head Coach Bruce Arians, known as a "Quarterback Whisperer," has already made strides with Buc quarterback Jameis Winston. Against the Rams, Winston threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns in the upset win on the road. Next: +3.5 at New Orleans Saints - Sun, Oct. 6

19. Indianapolis Colts (2-2): The Colts had a very disappointing performance at home in their 31-24 loss to the against the Raiders. The Colts were gashed on the ground for 188 yards by the Raiders. It will not get any easier this week when they face last year's NFL MVP. Next: +11 at Kansas City Chiefs - Sun, Oct. 6

20. Tennessee Titans (2-2): Marcus Mariota looked like a different quarterback in the easy win over the Falcons. Mariota completed 18 of 27 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. More importantly, he did not get sacked. The week before at Jacksonville, he was sacked nine times in a loss. Next: -3 vs Buffalo Bills - Sun, Oct. 6

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2): The Jags have won two straight games behind quarterback Gardner Minshew. While he may not be a permanent starter in the NFL, Minshew has definitely proven that he should at least have a long career in the NFL as a backup. Next: +3.5 at Carolina Panthers - Sun, Oct. 6

22. Carolina Panthers (2-2): The Panthers have won two straight behind quarterback Kyle Allen and a tough defense led by linebacker Luke Kuechly. Running back Christian McCaffery is among the early favorites for NFL MVP. He leads the NFL in rushing yards and total yards from the line of scrimmage. Next: -3.5 vs Jacksonville Jaguars - Sun, Oct. 6

23. Cleveland Browns (2-2): ESPN analyst Rex Ryan called Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield "overrated as hell" before their game with the Ravens. After Mayfield threw for 342 yards in a 40-25 victory over the Ravens, it appears that Ryan might be "overrated as hell." Next: +3.5 at San Francisco 49ers - Sun, Oct. 6

24. Baltimore Ravens (2-2): The Ravens looked great in the first two weeks of the season at home against the winless Dolphins and Cardinals. The past two weeks against the Chiefs and Browns, they have not looked so formidable against better competition. Could they be overrated? Next: -3.5 at Pittsburgh Steelers - Sun, Oct. 6

25. Atlanta Falcons (1-3): When the overrated label is attached to a player or a team, it can often be unfair. That would not be the case with the Falcons, who continue to struggle on both sides of the ball, despite a roster full of alleged talent. Next: +5 at Houston Texans - Sun, Oct. 6

26. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3): James Conner had his best game of the season as the Steelers spanked the Bengals in Pittsburgh. The team still has issues, but for one week against the hapless Bengals, they looked good. Next: +3.5 vs Baltimore Ravens - Mon, Sep. 30

27. Arizona Cardinals (0-3-1): Larry Fitzgerald caught five passes for 47 yards, pushing him past Tony Gonzalez for the No. 2 on the NFL's career receptions list. Fitzgerald has 1,326 catches. If this is his last season, it would be a shame to waste it in a Cardinal uniform. Next: +15.5 vs New England Patriots - Sun, Oct. 6

28. Denver Broncos (0-4): Things just keep getting worse. Linebacker Bradley Chubb was lost for the season with an ACL injury in the loss to the Jags. The Broncos may want to consider trading linebacker Von Miller and start rebuilding for the future. Miller is 30 years old and will make $17.5 million in base salary next season. Next: +6.5 at Los Angeles Chargers - Sun, Oct. 6

29. Washington Redskins (0-4): The Redskins have three quarterbacks on their roster and there is speculation that any one of the three could start this week. The last team the struggling Redskins need to play would be the Patriots.

30. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4): The Bengals will again be one of the featured teams in the Crummy Game of the Week. They take on the struggling Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati. Since both teams are winless, we will assume that someone will win this game. Next: -3.5 vs Arizona Cardinals - Sun, Oct. 6

31. New York Jets (0-3): 31. New York Jets (0-3): The Jets avoided a loss last weekend with a bye, but this weekend they travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles. With quarterback Sam Darnold still out with mononucleosis, the Jets anemic offense will be in for another long day. The Jets offense averages 196.7 yards per game, worst in the NFL. Next: +13.5 at Philadelphia Eagles - Sun, Oct. 6

32. Miami Dolphins (0-4): When quarterback Josh Rosen connected with DeVante Parker on a 34-yard touchdown throw, the Dolphins had their first lead of the season at 7-3. That turned out to be the highlight of the day for the Dolphins in their 30-10 blowout loss to the Chargers. Next: N/A vs Washington Redskins - Sun, Oct. 13