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2016 NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Rams Slip Following Tough Loss to Bills

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:01 p.m. ET

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Oct 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher (right) and wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) during a NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills, see where the Los Angeles Rams stand in the 2016 NFL Power Rankings Week 6.

In the 2016 NFL Power Rankings for Week 6, the Los Angeles Rams unfortunately took a fall following Sunday’s 30-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

After back-to-back road wins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals, the Rams all of a sudden became a team on the rise in the NFC as the offense finally woke up. Over their first two games of the regular season, Los Angeles was averaging just 4.5 points per game, so it was good to see the team make progress over their previous two wins.

So what happened with the Rams on Sunday against the Bills? For a team that was making progress, Los Angeles managed to only find the end zone once against Buffalo as the team was forced to settle for field goals on their other four scoring drives.

With the loss, the Rams fell to second in the NFC West behind the Seattle Seahawks, but don’t count this squad out just yet. At 3-2, take a look at where Los Angeles stands for the 2016 NFL Power Rankings for Week 6.

Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Charlie Whitehurst (15) leaves the game with an injury during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

32. Cleveland Browns 0-5 (32)

The Cleveland Browns were always considered a team with bad luck, but nobody could have predicted their quarterback situation to be this bad. Most teams stress any time a backup quarterback has to be used, so to see the Browns go through four quarterbacks already at this point in the season is absolutely insane to think about.

During their Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, Cleveland was forced to go with Terrelle Pryor after Cody Kessler and Charlie Whitehurst left the game with injuries. While Pryor has experience at quarterback during his time in the pros and college at Ohio State, this was not what the Browns had in mind for the 2016 season.

At 0-5, Cleveland is the unfortunate winners of being the only remaining winless team in the league, and it’s not going to get easier any time soon with two upcoming games on the road against the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals.

Oct 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11) celebrates with running back Carlos Hyde (28) after touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the third quarter at Levi

31. San Francisco 49ers 1-4 (31)

Remember when the San Francisco 49ers won their first game of the 2016 season and everyone thought this may turn out to be a better football team than originally expected? Well, it didn’t take long for that dream to be shattered after the 49ers picked up their fourth-straight loss against the Arizona Cardinals to fall to 1-4 on the season.

Blaine Gabbert has shown potential at times as the starter for San Francisco, but the last few weeks have made it clear he’s not the answer for this team at quarterback. With all of the debate over who deserves to start at quarterback, the 49ers have nothing to lose by going with Colin Kaepernick at this point as he seems to be the better option.

Even if he’s nowhere near the elite level from a few years ago, Kaepernick has proven to be successful as a starter in the league before, and running quarterbacks have a history of being successful in Chip Kelly‘s offense, even if it didn’t turn out so well in Philadelphia.

The longer San Francisco waits on making a switch at quarterback, the more they’ll regret it down the road when looking at how quickly the losses are piling up.

Oct 9, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (right) talks with Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore (left) on the sideline during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium. Titans won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

30. Miami Dolphins 1-4 (26)

Just when it seems like the Miami Dolphins couldn’t hit a new low, they go on to lose their fourth game of the young season at home to the Tennessee Titans.

The struggles continued for Ryan Tannehill against the Titans after the quarterback completed just 12 of 18 passes for 191 yards without any touchdowns, but he did find a way to throw two interceptions. Terrible doesn’t even begin to describe how bad Miami’s offense has been this season, as this team has already dug a deep hole in the AFC East.

A home matchup against an inconsistent team like Tennessee seemed to be the perfect ingredient to get back on the winning track for Miami, but Sunday’s performance is the perfect example of just how bad it’s been this season. A quarterback like Tannehill can only receive so many chances when it comes to proving himself worthy of having the starter role, and even though Adam Gase claims he’s sticking with his guy, it’s clear the Dolphins need a change.

Tannehill has been on the hot seat so many times over the last few years, and after the team’s 1-4 start, a change seems necessary to help this team get back on the winning track.

Oct 9, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffrey (17) tries to pull in a pass during their game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

29. Chicago Bears 1-4 (29)

There’s two things to know about the Chicago Bears over the last two weeks, with the one thing being it’s this team seems like they would be much better off without Jay Cutler at quarterback.

Similar to Miami’s situation with Tannehill, Cutler has received every opportunity in the world to prove himself at quarterback, and even though he’s currently out with an injury, this team seems to be clicking more with Brian Hoyer running the offense. Chicago may have fallen just short against the Indianapolis Colts, but Hoyer’s performance was one of a few highlights from the game as the quarterback completed 33 of 43 passes for 397 yards with two touchdowns.

The crazy thing is if the defense hadn’t given up that big 35-yard touchdown to T.Y. Hilton with less than four minutes to go, there’s a good chance the Bears would have gone on to win this game. Still, this team may not be talented enough at the moment to be seen as contenders in the NFC, but Chicago always seems to find a way to make it interesting each week.

As long as Hoyer continues to play at this elite level along with Jordan Howard–who recorded his second-straight 100-yard game–continuing to play at a high level for a rookie, this effort by the Bears should pay off down the road as this team looks to continue going through rebuilding mode.

October 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy (right) argues with NFL line judge Gary Arthur (108) during the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

28. San Diego Chargers 1-4 (24)

It’s crazy to think if the San Diego Chargers could figure out their problems with holding on to leads in the fourth quarter, this team could be sitting at 4-1 or 5-0 heading into Week 5. Instead, this team continues to sit near the bottom of the rankings, and are kicking themselves once again after missing out on another winning opportunity.

Between allowing a 20-yard touchdown on a gutsy fourth-and-2 call in the third quarter and a botched snap resulting in a failed field goal attempt to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, Sunday was tough to swallow for the Chargers during their loss to the Raiders. It’s one thing to fall just shy against a division rival, but to lose the way San Diego did to Oakland was just painful to watch as this team had every opportunity in the world to come up on the winning end.

The Chargers turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments of the 2015 season with nine of their losses coming by single digits, and unfortunately this team is taking a similar path this year with all four of their losses coming by single digits. Injuries can’t be used as an excuse at this point as San Diego is talented enough to be contenders; they just keep finding new ways to disappoint each week.

Oct 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter looks down against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-3 (28) (Monday Night Game)

After starting the year on a hot note with a big win against the Atlanta Falcons, everything has gone downhill for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as this team heads into their Monday night matchup against the Carolina Panthers on a three-game losing streak. However, the good thing for the Buccaneers is Monday seems like the perfect opportunity for a rare win against the Panthers when considering the team has started off 1-3 as well.

Not to mention, Carolina faces the challenge of adjusting to playing without Cam Newton, who suffered a concussion last weekend against the Atlanta Falcons. While the Panthers playing without Newton could make things easier for the Buccaneers, they still have to figure out a way to overcome Carolina’s intense defense.

There’s no question this defense is far from the effective level from a year ago as the last few weeks have made it clear how much this team misses Josh Norman, but that doesn’t mean they’re not hungry for a breakout performance. If anything, Tampa Bay should be worried about this defense coming out strong to make a statement in the national spotlight.

And if that does happen, the Buccaneers could easily be sitting at 1-4 heading into Week 6.

Oct 2, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; New Orleans Saints fullback John Kuhn (29) celebrates after a touchdown with center Max Unger (60) during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. New Orleans won 35-34. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

26. New Orleans Saints 1-3 (27)

As bad as it sounds, the New Orleans Saints were in desperate need of a bye when looking at how disappointing the defense has been to start the season.

This team may be coming off an impressive Week 4 win against the Chargers, but the only reason that happened in the first place was due to the Saints scoring two touchdowns in the final five minutes. If New Orleans is going to have even the slightest chance at competing in the NFC this year, the defense is going to need to figure out a way to play better.

Seriously though, even the slightest improvement would make this defense better than the level they’re currently playing at.

The fact that New Orleans has allowed their opponents to score at least 34 points in three of four games shows just how bad the defense has been so far. And if that wasn’t already frustrating to deal with, the Saints return from their bye with three games against teams that made the playoffs one year ago.

If the defense is going to turn things around soon, now would be the perfect time to do so as the Saints can’t afford many more losses this early in the season.

Oct 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws the ball as Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry (75) moves in to tackle during the first quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

25. Detroit Lions 2-3 (30)

It may still be early in the 2016 season, but the Detroit Lions already found themselves in a must-win situation during Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though they failed to find the end zone in the second half, the Lions deserve credit for knocking off the previously undefeated Eagles as Matthew Stafford showed once again why he deserves consideration for being one of the league’s toughest quarterbacks.

All three of Stafford’s touchdowns came in the first half of Sunday’s contest as Detroit picked up their first victory since opening weekend. Stafford and the Lions knew this year would be an adjustment on offense now that Calvin Johnson is enjoying retirement, but it’s been tough to find consistent help in the passing game.

One week it’s Marvin Jones leading the way, and the next it turns out to be Theo Riddick, who also happened to catch two touchdowns against Philadelphia. The weapons are certainly there for Stafford as Sunday was the perfect example of who he has to work with, but the only thing he needs help with is the targets that are going to be reliable on a weekly basis.

As long as that happens and Stafford manages to stay healthy at quarterback, Detroit will be just fine on offense moving forward.

Oct 9, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (91) pressures New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the second half of their game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won, 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

24. New York Jets 1-4 (22)

The 2016 schedule has not been kind to the New York Jets as this team has already faced four playoff teams from a year ago over the first five games of the season. To top it off, all four of those games have resulted in losses for the Jets, with the latest coming on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With the way the Steelers’ offense has been playing, nobody gave the Jets much of a shot in this one, even though they kept it interesting at times in the second half. Heinz Field is never an easy place for opponents to begin with, and New York struggled to get anything going on offense in the second half before eventually falling to Pittsburgh 31-13.

While he made progress by not recording a turnover against the Steelers, the Jets need more from Ryan Fitzpatrick if this team has any intention of picking up some wins soon. Fitzpatrick did everything in his power to fight for a long-term deal in the offseason, and while New York didn’t budge on the quarterback’s demands, the organization is still overpaying him for the 2016 season.

Take a closer look at the money Fitzpatrick is earning this year, and it’s easy not to feel bad for the quarterback’s struggles as there’s no excuses for his poor performances. Clearly, Fitzpatrick was a mistake at quarterback, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better for the Jets anytime soon.

Oct 2, 2016; London, ENG; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

23. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-3 (20)

The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of those teams at the beginning of the season many expected to be a sleeper in the AFC when it comes to making a playoff run, and while their season hasn’t exactly gotten off to the best start, there’s still plenty of time to make it happen.

One of the positives for the Jaguars this early on is the AFC South is turning out to be one of the weakest divisions in football as three teams have a losing record heading into Week 6. After three frustrating losses to start the season, Jacksonville came up big in London with a win against the Indianapolis Colts, and there’s every reason to believe they can build a win streak of their own with a favorable Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears.

On paper, the Jaguars seem to have one of the most talented offenses in the league when considering the weapons Blake Bortles has to work with in the passing game. Of course, the biggest issue for Bortles so far this season has been finding consistent results with fewer mistakes while running the offense.

With that being said, this team took a big step in the right direction when it comes to getting on the winning track after their trip to London, and now it’s up to the Jaguars to keep rolling.

Oct 9, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA;Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) and Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) embrace after their victory over the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

22. Indianapolis Colts 2-3 (23)

As bad as it sounds, the Indianapolis Colts should consider themselves extremely lucky as this team could easily be winless heading into Week 6, with their latest close victory coming against the Bears on Sunday.

When seeing how these teams matchup on paper, one would think the Colts should of had zero problems getting by a depleted team like the Bears, but Sunday’s game was closer than expected for Andrew Luck and company. In fact, if it wasn’t for Luck connecting with Hilton on a late fourth-quarter touchdown, Indianapolis could easily be sitting at 1-4.

Instead, the Colts squeaked by with a big home win to stay in the hunt for the AFC South, which is crazy to think about at this point in the season. Despite the poor play by Indianapolis to start the season, this team still has as good of a chance as the other three teams to win the title when considering three of the four teams in the division have losing records.

Knowing Luck, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a win like this were just what he needed to get the ball rolling on offense. Luck has always proven to be one of the most competitive and dangerous quarterbacks in the league, but his poor play to start the season has never been this bad.

Oct 9, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws a pass during the first half against Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

21. Tennessee Titans (2-3) (25)

Marcus Mariota has been heavily criticized so far this season when looking at how some of his costly turnovers played a major role in the outcome of games for the Tennessee Titans. With that being said, Sunday’s performance by Mariota against the Dolphins is the perfect example of just how talented of a quarterback he can be when he eliminates the mistakes.

The Titans picked up their second win of the season thanks to a solid game by Mariota in which he completed 20 of 29 passes for 163 yards with three touchdowns. Along with his impressive play through the air, Mariota picked up another touchdown on the ground, giving him four total in the game, while finishing the day with 60 rushing yards as well.

After Sunday’s victory, Tennessee is now one win away from matching last year’s total, and the best part is they’re only heading into Week 6.

With an improved offense, the Titans are showing they have just as good of a chance to win the AFC South as the rest of the division now that Mariota has better options to work with. Not to mention the addition of DeMarco Murray (121 rushing yards) is turning out to be one of the most underrated moves of the offseason.

Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Derek Anderson (3) passes against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 48-33. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

20. Carolina Panthers 1-3 (19) (Monday Night Game)

Is it too early to call Monday’s game against the Buccaneers a must-win situation for the Panthers? With the way the Atlanta Falcons are playing over the last four games, the answer to that would be yes.

For a team that finished with just one loss during the regular season in 2016, nobody could have predicted to see the Panthers with three losses this early in the season, but this squad lost two tough matchups to the Minnesota Vikings and Falcons over the previous two weeks. While a home matchup against Tampa Bay seems to be just what this team needs to get back on track, it’s not going to be easy with Newton watching from the sidelines.

Derek Anderson should be able to handle the job in the mean time assuming Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen help take the pressure off him in the passing game, but it’s also been a long time since the quarterback has found himself in this type of position. The last thing Carolina can afford is to fall to 1-4 on the season as Anderson faces plenty of pressure with being successful on offense, all while playing in the national spotlight.

At least for Anderson, he only has to worry about playing against the Buccaneers versus going against a superb defense like the Vikings.

Oct 9, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) in the huddle during a time out against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

19. Cincinnati Bengals 2-3 (13)

Whatever is going on with the Cincinnati Bengals, they better figure out a way to fix their problems soon before it’s too late.

For a team that’s reached the playoffs in each of the last five seasons, the Bengals have a ton of work to do if they’re going to have any chance at keeping that streak alive at the end of the regular season. It was one thing to lose games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos, but Cincinnati looked far from prepared for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, especially on defense.

As if dealing with Dak Prescott wasn’t already tough enough, the Bengals couldn’t find a way to keep Ezekiel Elliott in check after the rookie had a field day against the defense by rushing for 134 yards to go along with two touchdowns. And if the poor play by the defense wasn’t already frustrating enough, the offense was just as bad–if not worse–for Cincinnati as it took the team until the fourth quarter to finally get their first points on the board.

With Andy Dalton having one of the league’s top wide receivers in A.J. Green, there’s no excuse for this type of performance from a playoff-caliber team like the Bengals.

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) passes against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

18. Houston Texans 3-2 (10)

Speaking of disappointing teams from the AFC, the Houston Texans are quickly turning into one of the biggest busts from the first half of the regular season, and while he still has plenty of time to prove himself worthy, the Brock Osweiler experiment is quickly turning into a waste.

For a player that many considered overpaid at the start of the season, Osweiler is making the Texans look foolish for the amount of money they’ve invested in their beloved quarterback, and Sunday’s game against the Vikings is the perfect example as to why. As if throwing 42 passes wasn’t frustrating enough, Osweiler only completed 19 of those passes for a whopping 184 yards to go along with a touchdown and an interception.

Even if these numbers came against arguably the league’s top defense in Minnesota, Houston expects more out of their franchise quarterback when considering the only way to be the best is by defeating the best. Plus, it’s not like Osweiler is lacking weapons in the wide receiver department as DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller gives the Texans a dangerous duo at wide receiver.

J.J. Watt‘s absence isn’t even a valid excuse at this point when looking at how disappointing the offense has been over their first five games.

Oct 9, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) hands the football off to New York Giants running back Orleans Darkwa (26) during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

17. New York Giants 2-3 (17)

The New York Giants have every reason in the world to feel frustrated over Sunday’s loss on the road to the Green Bay Packers, but let’s look at the positives from this game.

For starters, the Giants should feel better about the way their defense played when considering it’s never easy to limit a high-powered offense like the Packers to scoring just 23 points. It’s one thing to keep an offense in check, but when that offense happens to be run by Aaron Rodgers, it says a lot about the playing level of the defense.

If New York can find a way to play like that on a weekly basis, it would certainly give them a much better shot at staying in the NFC East hunt. Lambeau Field is never an easy place for opponents to play, but the Giants have to feel somewhat positive about Sunday’s performance.

However, it’s safe to say the biggest relief of all was the fact that Odell Beckham Jr. looked like a completely different player from the last couple of weeks. For a player that was the center of attention for his inability to keep his emotions in line, it was good to see Beckham having fun for a change, as one of the funniest moments from this game was when he hugged it out with the kicking net following his touchdown reception.

Oct 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum (17) is pressured by Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Jerry Hughes (55) during a NFL game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Bills defeated the Rams 30-19. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

16. Los Angeles Rams 3-2 (12)

Leave it to the Los Angeles Rams to finally earn respect from the rest of the NFL following an impressive win over the Arizona Cardinals on the road, only to follow up with a disappointing home loss to the Buffalo Bills.

In defense of the Rams’ defense, this outcome could have been much different if they weren’t losing three of their key starters. While Jeff Fisher‘s squad had zero answers when it came to stopping LeSean McCoy (150 rushing yards on 18 attempts) in the ground game, it was the poor play of the offense and their inability to find the end zone that turned out to be the difference maker in this one.

Four of the five scoring drives for the Rams resulted in field goals as Todd Gurley‘s one-yard touchdown in the second quarter was the only time this team reached the end zone. Scoring has been an issue for Los Angeles when considering they averaged just 4.5 points over the first two games of the season, but this loss hurts as the team fell below the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West standings.

Plus, a costly interception thrown by Case Keenum that was returned for a touchdown along with a bonehead decision by Fisher to go for a fake punt late in the fourth quarter certainly didn’t help the Rams out either.

Oct 9, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) on the sideline during the game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

15. Baltimore Ravens 3-2 (15)

When looking at how much of a disappointment the offense has been for the Baltimore Ravens this season, the team made the wise choice to fire Marc Trestman following their Week 5 loss to the Washington Redskins.

A matchup against the Redskins’ defense is a dream for most offenses when it comes to the high potential of points that can be scored, but the Ravens just couldn’t find a way to get anything going on Sunday. What’s even more frustrating is Baltimore has already scored less than 20 points in three games this season, which makes it even more amazing for them to still be above .500 at this point.

With one of the league’s toughest quarterbacks in Joe Flacco, there’s no excuse for any of this to happen, so it was good to see the team make the move of parting ways with Trestman after five disappointing games.

Even after a 3-0 start, many questioned if the Ravens were as good as their record indicated when considering they’ve only played against one team so far that reached the playoffs in 2015. Luckily, this team is still in much better shape than most teams at 3-2, and they’re anything but out when it comes to the AFC North.

Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 43-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

14. Kansas City Chiefs 2-2 (14)

It’s only been four games, but the Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most difficult teams to figure out when looking at how much of a roller coaster this season has already been.

This is a defense that forced six interceptions on Fitzpatrick one week, only to allow the Steelers to score 43 points the following week as this team desperately needed a bye after that embarrassing loss. Defense has been the anchor to this team over the last couple of seasons, but the only chance the Chiefs are going to have at turning things around is if Alex Smith can take this offense to a higher level.

It’s not going to be the easiest of tasks, but for a team that reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs in January, it’s certainly possible. As last year showed, Kansas City is capable of quickly turning things around, and emerging as one of the hottest teams in the NFL.

Hopefully, a bye week was just what the Chiefs needed to get out of their early-season funk before getting back on the right track. Especially when seeing how quickly the Oakland Raiders are making things more interesting in the AFC West.

October 6, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians argues against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi

13. Arizona Cardinals 2-3 (21)

Are the Arizona Cardinals finally out of their slump and ready to make a deep run in the NFC? It was only one game, but let’s hope Thursday’s win against the 49ers was just what this offense needed to finally start living up to their potential.

Even without Carson Palmer, this team cruised by San Francisco during their 33-21 win as Drew Stanton did just enough to help Arizona get by after throwing two key touchdown passes to Larry Fitzgerald. Not to mention David Johnson finally lived up to the early-season hype after finding the end zone twice on 27 carries for 157 rushing yards.

For a team that many considered one of the favorites in the NFC to reach the Super Bowl, this type of performance by the offense is what the rest of the league expected from the Cardinals on a consistent basis. Even if it was against a disappointing team like San Francisco, Arizona desperately needed a big performance like this from their offense to get back on the winning track.

Now, the challenge for the Cardinals’ offense becomes playing on this same level when Palmer is healthy enough to return to his duties as the starting quarterback.

Oct 9, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Redskins head coach Jay Jay Gruden speaks with quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) and quarterback Colt McCoy (16) during a time out during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

12. Washington Redskins 3-2 (18)

All of a sudden, the Washington Redskins look like the team that won the NFC East one year ago after picking up their third-straight win on Sunday against the Ravens. Even if it wasn’t the best of performances, the Redskins did enough to get by their in-state rivals to help get back in the hunt for the division title.

Nobody knew what to make of this team following an 0-2 start to the season, but give Washington credit for turning things around in such a short period of time. While the offense could have done a much better job, it was the defense of the Redskins that stepped it up after holding the Ravens to just 10 points.

After a few people wrote off Washington at the beginning of the season, this team looks determined to defend their division title, and it continues next week with a home matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Who knows, maybe Kirk Cousins deserves that long-term contract from the Redskins after all, but let’s take it one game at a time since the quarterback still has a lot to prove.

For now, let’s just give Washington the credit they deserve for this quick turnaround following a disastrous start.

Oct 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws the ball during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Lions win 24-23. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

11. Philadelphia Eagles 3-1 (8)

There was a little concern over how the Philadelphia Eagles would come out against the Detroit Lions following a bye week, and the argument can be made there was a little rust on the defensive side of the ball when looking at the first half from Sunday’s game.

For a team that hadn’t allowed a passing touchdown over the first three games, the Eagles’ defense allowed Stafford to throw three touchdowns in the first half of Sunday’s loss. While Philadelphia came up big by keeping Detroit out of the end zone in the second half, this team still had too many costly mistakes that impacted the outcome of this game.

The good thing for the Eagles is this was only one game, and there’s no reason to worry just yet. Everybody knew it was only a matter of time before Philadelphia lost their first game of 2016, but talk about poor timing for Carson Wentz to throw his first career interception.

At 3-1, the Eagles are still in good shape heading into Week 6 as they look to keep pace with the other three teams in this surprising race for the NFC East title that will most likely be determined in the final week of the regular season.

Oct 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (88) celebrates with wide receiver Robert Woods (10) after a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half during the NFL game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

10. Buffalo Bills 3-2 (16)

Who would have predicted the Buffalo Bills to be this successful after their questionable decision to fire offensive coordinator Greg Roman following a Week 2 loss?

The Bills look like a team on a mission over the last three weeks with impressive wins against the Cardinals, New England Patriots, and now Rams as this team has overcome an 0-2 start to be sitting pretty at 3-2 heading into Week 6. Not only did McCoy come up big on offense by rushing for 150 yards on just 18 attempts, but it was the defense that came up big once again after holding Los Angeles to just one touchdown.

All of a sudden, the AFC just got a little more interesting thanks to the surprise success of Buffalo over the few weeks. This team deserves all of the credit in the world for putting together some impressive wins over the last three weeks, and hopefully their success continues over the next few weeks.

With upcoming games against the 49ers and Dolphins, the Bills could easily find themselves at 5-2 before their next matchup against New England, which could be huge when considering how important each game in the division is going to be for Buffalo moving forward.

Oct 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fullback Jamize Olawale (49) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

9. Oakland Raiders 4-1 (11)

After years of frustration, the Oakland Raiders are finally giving fans something to cheer about as this team came up with another huge win on Sunday against the Chargers.

This team may have caught a few lucky breaks, but it’s hard to ignore how incredible this team is playing right now as Jack Del Rio continues to find success, even when the head coach decides to roll the dice on big plays. One of the main reasons behind Oakland’s success has been due to the successful duo at wide receiver in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree as each player recorded a touchdown catch in Sunday’s win.

As long as Derek Carr and his duo at wideout stays healthy, there’s every reason to believe this team has what it takes to be considered serious contenders in the AFC.

They still have a long way to go, but when considering how long it’s been since this team had a winning record, it’s tough not to get excited over their 4-1 start to the 2016 season. And thanks to some quarterback issues with the Denver Broncos, the Raiders may have a better shot at winning the division than originally expected at the beginning of the year.

Oct 9, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) celebrates with quarterback Dak Prescott (4) after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

8. Dallas Cowboys 4-1 (9)

Remember how much trouble the Dallas Cowboys had in the past whenever Tony Romo was hurt and forced to watch from the sidelines? All of a sudden, the Cowboys could find themselves with a difficult decision over their veteran quarterback if Prescott continues playing at this high level.

What Dallas has accomplished so far this season with Prescott and Elliott has been nothing short of amazing as this team currently sits in the driver’s seat of the NFC East. After Romo went down, nobody could have expected the Cowboys to be 4-1 heading into Week 6, especially with Dez Bryant missing the previous two games.

Between Prescott looking like a veteran and Elliott quickly emerging as one of the league’s top running backs, it’s crazy to think how much success Dallas is already having with these young rookies, which means the best is arguably yet to come. If this team can manage a win on the road at Lambeau Field next Sunday, it’s safe to say the Cowboys would be the real deal as one of the top contenders in the NFC.

Even if they don’t win against the Packers, this is still a team not to be taken lightly, and Sunday’s game against the Bengals is the perfect example as to why.

Oct 2, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) in the second half at MetLife Stadium. Seattle Seahawks defeat the New York Jets 27-17. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

7. Seattle Seahawks 3-1 (7)

Thanks to some help from the Rams, the Seattle Seahawks are on top of the NFC West following their bye week with a 3-1 record, and when looking at how much the injury bug has hit this team, a weekend off couldn’t have come at a better time.

Despite dealing with numerous injuries, Russell Wilson still found a way to be successful for the Seahawks’ offense over their previous two games against the 49ers and Jets. With that being said, Wilson will need to be on top of his game over the next two weeks as Seattle faces two tough teams in the Atlanta Falcons and Cardinals.

Of course, the deciding factor for these games will come down to the play of the defense when considering the high-powered offenses of both Atlanta and Arizona, but that doesn’t mean Seattle won’t need a strong game from Wilson as well.

At the moment, the Seahawks appear to be the team to beat in the NFC West as they now have the advantage in the division, but keeping it that way won’t be an easy task. Hopefully, the early bye week pays off for Seattle when it comes to resting banged-up players like Wilson.

Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak looks on in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Falcons won 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

6. Denver Broncos 4-1 (1)

For a team that seemed capable of winning with just about any player at quarterback, Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons was a big wakeup call for the Denver Broncos when it comes to having an effective starter running the offense.

Clearly, Paxton Lynch still has a long way to go when it comes to being ready to handle the responsibilities of an NFL starter after failing to take advantage of a Falcons’ defense that has struggled for most of 2016 while playing at home. Obviously, it’s never easy for a rookie to be thrown into the mix unexpectedly, but when looking at the wide receivers Lynch had to work with in the passing game, it’s hard to feel sympathy for the quarterback.

Hopefully, Trevor Siemian has a speedy recovery to get back in the starting lineup as the second-year quarterback just recently started looking comfortable under center. The defense can do everything they can do keep opponents in check, but Denver’s offense is still going to need to put up points at the end of the day.

Once Siemian returns to the lineup, the Broncos should have no problem moving up towards the top of the Power Rankings once again.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers 4-1 (5)

Don’t look now, but the offense of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been on a roll over the last two games, and the scary thing is it doesn’t look like they’re ready to slow down any time soon as they continue to make a strong statement as being one of the top teams to beat in the AFC.

Ever since their embarrassing loss to the Eagles in which they failed to find the end zone even once, Ben Roethlisberger has taken his play to a whole new level as the quarterback has thrown nine touchdowns over the last two games, including four on Sunday against the Jets. Everybody knew Pittsburgh’s offense had the potential to make history this season, and when looking at the previous two games, there’s a good chance this squad is going to live up to the hype.

What’s even crazier to think about is the amount of weapons this team has beyond Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell that are capable of breaking out each week. Just look at what Sammie Coates (six catches for 139 yards with two touchdowns against the Jets) did on Sunday as the wideout is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous threats when it comes to the deep ball.

Oct 9, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) rushes with the football around New York Giants

4. Green Bay Packers 3-1 (4)

The Green Bay Packers may be off to an impressive 3-1 start, but there’s still reason to be concerned with how close each of their wins have been so far.

All three wins by the Packers this season have been decided by seven points or less as this team has allowed their opponents to have a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter. The latest win came on Sunday night against the New York Giants as Green Bay had numerous opportunities to put this game away, but failed to do so.

Still, a win is a win no matter what as the Packers should just be thrilled over the fact they only have one loss on the season. Every victory is going to be important for this team moving forward when considering they play in the same division as arguably the best team in football right now in the Minnesota Vikings, but Aaron Rodgers has always been the type of quarterback that loves a good challenge.

With reliable weapons on offense, Rodgers should continue to keep this team in good shape when it comes to the NFC standings, but the quarterback could certainly go without performances like his two interceptions against the Giants.

Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) and quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrate the win over the Denver Broncos in the second half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Falcons defeated the Broncos 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

3. Atlanta Falcons 4-1 (6)

If there were any doubters of the Atlanta Falcons prior to Sunday, it’s safe to say all of those doubters are now believers following the team’s impressive win on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions.

Many assumed this would be the game that brought the Falcons back down to earth as they were squaring off against one of the league’s top defenses in the Broncos, but give Matt Ryan credit for helping this team take advantage of double coverage on Julio Jones. With Denver focusing most of their attention on the star wideout, it allowed Ryan to use other key players on offense as Atlanta now has a comfortable lead in the NFC South at 4-1.

While the Falcons have a history of collapsing after hot starts, this season seems different than before as this team seems determined and focused to make sure that doesn’t happen again. As impressive as Ryan was with leading the offense on Sunday, it’s the Falcons’ defense that deserves plenty of credit when considering they ranked near the bottom of the league prior to their game against the Broncos.

Of course, the next task becomes figuring out a way to get Atlanta to play like this on defense each and every game.

Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) after a touchdown during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

2. New England Patriots 4-1 (3)

The New England Patriots and their fans had this game circled on their calendars for months as Tom Brady finally returned to the starting lineup after missing the first four games of the regular season due to suspension.

Normally, most players would look a little rusty after spending that much time away from the football field, but Brady looked like a player that’s been running the offense since Week 1 after throwing for 406 yards with three touchdowns against the Browns. As impressive as this is, the biggest surprise of the day may have been the quick chemistry established with tight end Martellus Bennett, who joined the team in the offseason.

All three of Brady’s touchdowns went to Bennett as the tight end took advantage of Cleveland’s defenders focusing most of their attention on Rob Gronkowski in the passing game. How crazy would it be to see Brady find his name in the running for MVP after missing the first four games of the season?

It seems unlikely when considering the disadvantage he’s already at, but when it comes to an elite player like Brady, anything is possible when considering the high level he’s still on for a veteran of his age.

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) waves to teh stands after defeating the Houston Texans 31-13 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

1. Minnesota Vikings 5-0 (2)

Not many teams can overcome playing without their star quarterback, running back, or wide receiver, but somehow the Minnesota Vikings have found success by playing without all three at one point in the 2016 season.

While the situation with Stefon Diggs (groin) doesn’t compare to the absence of Teddy Bridgewater and Adrian Peterson, it’s amazing to see a team like the Vikings get better each week, despite all of these injury obstacles standing in their way. Not only is Minnesota finding ways to win these games, but they’re now the lone unbeaten team heading into Week 6 thanks to losses by the Eagles and Broncos.

For a team that received plenty of harsh feedback for giving up a first-round pick to acquire Sam Bradford, nobody is questioning any decision made by the Vikings as this is clearly the best overall team in football, and it was easy to see during Sunday’s win against Houston. Between the defense shutting down any quarterback thrown their way along with Bradford rolling on offense, it’s going to be tough for any team to beat the Vikings in 2016.

When looking at everything this team had to overcome, nobody could have predicted Minnesota to be in this position in a million years, but here they are as the best team in football heading into Week 6.