GSM NFL Power Rankings- Week 5 » Greenville Sports Media

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As the NFL season progresses each year, there always seems to be more questions that arise in the early part of the season than there are questions answered in the early part of the season.

Are the Bengals in deep trouble? Who, if anyone, is good in the AFC South? Will the Cowboys vs 49ers game on Sunday Night Football be a NFC Championship preview?

All of these questions and so many more are waiting to be answered in week 5 NFL action. With that, let’s get right into the week 5 edition of the Greenville Sports Media NFL Power Rankings.

1. San Francisco 49ers (Prev. 2)

The Christian McCaffery effect was on full display in a controlling 49ers win over the Cardinals last week, as the stud RB totaled 4 TDs on the day. The Cowboys are up next in a game many consider to be a preview of the NFC Championship.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (Prev. 3)

As the NFL’s Instagram account controversially put in their bio, the Chiefs are 2-0 as Swifties. After a week one loss to the Lions, the Chiefs have looked much closer to their old selves, or more accurately their old selves (Taylor’s Version).

3. Dallas Cowboys (Prev. 5)

The Cowboys rebounded from a tough upset loss to the Cardinals with a dominating win over the Patriots. That said, with San Francisco looming on Sunday night, the Cowboys are in line to face their first opponent with a record at or above .500.

4. Buffalo Bills (Prev. 6)

With a controlling win over the flashy Dolphins on Sunday, the Bills have secured their position as the best time in the AFC East once again.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (Prev. 4)

The Eagles are 4-0, but needing overtime to knock out the pesky Commanders is hardly convincing. There is a lot on the offensive side of the ball that has yet to click in 2023 for Philadelphia, but until it does, just win baby.

6. Miami Dolphins (Prev. 3)

The mighty Dolphins were beached by the Bills on Sunday after an impressive 3 game run. While they now won’t be perfect, the loss should only be a speed bump for Miami.

7. Detroit Lions (Prev. 7)

The Lions waltzed into Lambeau, took care of business, and waltzed out with complete control of the NFC North. The preseason favorites to win the division look like they are well on their way to meeting expectations.

8. Baltimore Ravens (Prev. 8)

After a rough loss to the Colts in Week 3, the Ravens bounced back in a big way with a blowout win over Cleveland, albeit without Browns QB Deshaun Watson on the opposite sideline. The Ravens look like the best team in the AFC North by a good margin.

9. Seattle Seahawks (Prev. 9)

The Seahawks took care of business against a weak Giants squad on Monday Night Football this week. While the 49ers dominance will likely keep Seattle from winning the NFC West, the Seahawks look to be a major contender for the NFC’s #1 wild card spot.

10. Los Angeles Chargers (Prev. 10)

While the Chargers improved to 2-2, it was against a Raiders team without their starting QB, and it was fairly close. It feels like every Los Angeles Chargers game will be tight to the end, for better or for worse.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars (Prev. 15)

The Jaguars rebounded from a bad loss to the Texans with a solid win over the Falcons in Jacksonville’s home away from home in London. The good news for Jacksonville is that they will remain in London and play a 2nd straight game overseas on Sunday morning. The bad news is that the opponent this time around will be the Buffalo Bills.

12. Tennessee Titans (Prev. 19)

The Titans finally got star RB Derrick Henry rolling, crushing the Bengals along the way. There will be a lot of ups and downs in Tennessee this season, but in a weak AFC South, anything is possible.

13. Los Angeles Rams (Prev. 20)

The Rams knocked off a tough young Colts team in overtime to improve to 2-2 on the season. With rookie WR Puka Nacua starring, and superstar WR Cooper Kupp’s return on the horizon, there’s reason for excitement for the Rams.

14. Tampa Bay (Prev. 22)

The Buccaneers completely controlled their game against the Saints on Sunday to improve to 3-1 on the season. With the NFC South wide open for the taking, Tampa Bay is stepping up to fill the void thus far.

15. Green Bay Packers (Prev. 11)

The Packers were taken to school at home by the Lions on Thursday Night. There’s still plenty of reason to be excited about the Packers, but winning the NFC North is probably out of the question at this point in time.

16. Cleveland Browns (Prev. 13)

The Browns were crushed by the Ravens, but QB Deshaun Watson was out. A very mixed bag in Cleveland this week.

17. New Orleans Saints (Prev. 16)

The Saints were ineffective against the Buccaneers, as they have been for the last several years. Expect to see New Orleans try to get stars like Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave going as the Saints offense continues to search for consistency in 2023.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (Prev. 12)

Something is not right in Cincinnati. The Titans blew the Bengals out of the water, 27-3 on Sunday. Something needs to change- and quickly.

19. Indianapolis Colts (Prev. 21)

The Colts are better than their record shows, and as their young roster continues to mature, Indianapolis could be players in the AFC South.

20. Houston Texans (Prev. 26)

With the 2nd straight blowout win of a quality opponent (First Jacksonville in week 3, now Pittsburgh in week 4) the Texans are in business. Rookie QB CJ Stroud and the Houston offense is cooking, and the AFC South door remains wide open..

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (Prev. 14)

Getting blown out always hurts. Getting blown out by the Texans? That’s gotta sting even more than usual.

22. Washington Commanders (Prev. 25)

The Commanders may have lost on Sunday, but if moral victories are a real thing, the game with the Eagles was certainly one of them for Washington. Commanders fans have to be hopeful after seeing such fight from their team in the overtime loss.

23. Atlanta Falcons (Prev. 17)

With a second straight flop of a week, the Falcons outlook is grim. Excepting Bijan Robinson, the Falcons offense is a tire fire.

24. New England Patriots (Prev. 18)

The Patriots are now 1-3, and the outlook is grim from here. Tough times indeed for New England.

25. New York Jets (Prev. 23)

Well… Zach Wilson looked decent!? Not a lot of bright spots for the Jets this season.

26. Las Vegas Raiders (Prev. 24)

The Raiders somehow managed to outcharger the Chargers on Sunday.

27. Arizona Cardinals (Prev. 27)

The Cardinals made it interesting for a bit in the 2nd half of their game against the undefeated 49ers, but ended up losing quietly. Still, Arizona has looked much better than expected so far.

28. New York Giants (Prev. 28)

The Giants continued to look helpless on offense, scoring only three points on MNF as they fell to the Seahawks. Both New York football teams have fallen on tough times this year.

29. Minnesota Vikings (Prev. 27)

The Vikings finally won a game! But it was a massive struggle for Minnesota to dispatch the lowly Panthers. It’s beginning to look like 2023 may be a lost year for the Vikings.