Chiefs, 49ers Lead NFL Power Rankings Entering Week 5
The short version
- Chiefs and 49ers, both 4-0, hold the top two spots; the Vikings (4-0, No. 6) are the only other unbeaten team.
- Bills fell from No. 1 to No. 5 after a home loss to Drake Maye's Patriots and next visit the Rams.
- Lamar Jackson was hurt in Baltimore's win over Tennessee; the Bears have won two games without injured Caleb Williams.
- Week 5 opens the NFL's bye weeks; the Broncos (No. 10) and Eagles (No. 13) were notable fallers.
Kansas City and San Francisco stand 4-0 at the top of the post-Week 4 Sporting News rankings, Buffalo slides from No. 1 and three unbeaten teams remain.
The Sporting News' NFL power rankings for Week 5, carried by Yahoo Sports, install the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in the top two positions after Week 4. Both sit at 4-0, with Minnesota the only other unbeaten team left as October begins and the bye weeks open. The list sees separation forming league-wide, with familiar contenders flexing while others remain stuck near the bottom.
Kansas City moved up from No. 2 after surviving a late scare from the Raiders. Patrick Mahomes delivered a fourth-quarter comeback before the running game, defense and special teams finished the job. The ranking frames the season as a sharp rebound from one down year, powered in part by Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III.
San Francisco climbed from No. 3, shaking off early offensive issues against Denver to unleash its full attack around Brock Purdy, with Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans forming a new four-man core. Raheem Morris also watched his defense overwhelm the Broncos. Minnesota, the third unbeaten side, holds No. 6, winning on defense and field goals while Kevin O'Connell's offense works through kinks around Kyler Murray, with the Saints and Colts up next around a bye.
Seattle ranks No. 3 at 3-1, with Mike Macdonald and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury running systems sturdy enough to withstand injuries while diversifying around Sam Darnold and the pass rush. Jacksonville jumped two spots to No. 4, with Trevor Lawrence making tough plays behind a more dynamic ground game and a defense generating relentless pressure and takeaways, enough to label them serious Super Bowl contenders.
Buffalo fell from No. 1 to No. 5 as defensive breakdowns led to a home loss to Drake Maye and New England, with Josh Allen unable to rescue the Bills on his own. A trip to face the 2-2 Rams comes next; Los Angeles climbed to No. 11 after a 10-point comeback in Philadelphia avoided a 1-3 start and now has a path back toward strong playoff position.
Chicago stands No. 7 at 3-1, having won twice while Caleb Williams recovers from a hamstring injury, with Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent running Ben Johnson's offense smoothly off the run game. Road games against Green Bay and Atlanta come before New England visits. The Patriots rose five spots to No. 9 as Maye freewheeled with his arm and legs against a vulnerable Buffalo defense, and an improved Raiders defense is next.
Baltimore advanced to No. 8 after Derrick Henry carried the revenge win over Tennessee, though concerns linger because the offense slowed once Lamar Jackson was hurt and could no longer execute Declan Doyle's scheme. A tuneup in Atlanta precedes a big Cleveland matchup; the Browns climbed six spots to No. 17 at 3-1 after beating Tampa Bay.
Denver dropped from No. 7 to No. 10 behind a roller-coaster offense led by Bo Nix, with Davis Webb's play-calling drawing questions, no trusted run game regardless of the back, and few weapons beyond Jaylen Waddle. Las Vegas held at No. 12 after going toe-to-toe with Kansas City and falling one scoring play short, with Kirk Cousins' form a major reason Klint Kubiak leads the coach-of-the-year conversation.
Philadelphia slid from No. 9 to No. 13 after a meltdown that began with Nick Sirianni's field-goal decision — without its top receiver, tight end and running back, and missing right tackle Lane Johnson, Jalen Hurts struggled against the Rams and Vic Fangio's defense could not close. The Giants jumped to No. 14 as John Harbaugh and Matt Nagy let Jameis Winston keep gunslinging minus Jaxson Dart, compensating for a defense that gives up a lot with clutch situational plays. Dallas holds No. 15 behind Dak Prescott's connection with CeeDee Lamb, who caught 17 passes in the win over Houston, and Cincinnati sits No. 16, awaiting Ja'Marr Chase's clearance with Miami next before the first Ravens matchup and turnovers still to eliminate.
Games to watch
