Clarity

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2014 Week 5

Nipping at #10's heels:

Patriots (#16), Bears (#15), Cowboys (#14)

Packers (#13), 49ers (#12), Panthers (#11)

10. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)

Last Week: 7th
Best Ranking: 6/5 tie (Week 2)
The Falcons, now 2-2, have now lost four straight on the road dating back to last season, showing they just can't get it done away from home. The best thing going for the Falcons is they're still 2-0 in the NFC South with wins against New Orleans and Tampa Bay. Their next two division games are on the road, unfortunately for Atlanta, but they're against two teams also still struggling to find their identity: the Buccaneers (Nov. 9) and the Panthers (Nov. 16). - Vaughn McClure

9. Indianapolis Colts (2-2)

Last Week: 13th

Best Ranking: 5th (Post-Draft)

Prior to Sunday, you would have to go back to the 2004 season for the last time that the Colts scored at least 40 points in back-to-back games. The Colts averaged 42.5 points in the past two games and they've had at least 500 yards of total offense in each of those games, as they continue to be one of the best offenses in the league, especially against division rivals. Indianapolis has now won nine straight and 11 of its last 12 games against division foes. The Colts did it on Sunday with a balanced passing attack. Quarterback Andrew Luck completed passes to nine different receivers for the second straight week, as the Colts continue to be a team that's a tough matchup because of their ability to spread the ball around. Luck finished 29-of-41 for 393 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Playing against backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, the Colts' defense wasn't great, but did help out by forcing three turnovers and recording three sacks. - Mike Wells

8. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
Last Week: 16th
Best Ranking: 8th (Week 5)
Highlighted by Steve Smith's big plays, the Ravens won their third straight game and closed to within a half game of the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens scored a season-high 38 points despite not having the franchise's No. 2 all-time rusher (Ray Rice), their best tight end (Dennis Pitta) and starting left tackle (Eugene Monroe). It's the first time that the Ravens have scored more than 30 points in a game since their Super Bowl victory over the 49ers two seasons ago. It also marked the third straight game in which quarterback Joe Flacco wasn't sacked. That gave Flacco plenty of time to throw three touchdowns, the 15th time he's done that in his career. Flacco finished 22-of-31 for 327 yards. Meanwhile, the defense has given up only five touchdowns in four games. The Ravens now begin a grueling stretch in which they play five of their next six games on the road. - Jamison Hensley

7. Detroit Lions (3-1)

Last Week: 15th

Best Ranking: 7th (Week 5)

For the second straight season, the Lions will leave September with a 3-1 record. However, this Lions team appears to have been better equipped to handle it. Detroit dealt with injuries throughout Sunday's game, as well as new players handling different roles throughout the week. That the Lions were able to win fairly convincingly anyway is a good indication of what this team could be over the next few weeks. There are two more winnable games (Buffalo Bills & Minnesota Vikings) before a showdown against the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 19. Detroit still has some injury-related questions at this point, but the Lions look to be headed in a good direction a month into the season. - Michael Rothstein

6. Philadelphia Eagles (3-1)
Last Week: 4th
Best Ranking: 4th (Week 4, 3)
Trends don't last forever. Like bell-bottom pants, the Eagles' and 49ers' second-half disparities look like ancient history after this one. The Eagles had dominated second halves, while the Niners hadn't scored a touchdown after halftime. That ended when a Philadelphia fumble led to a San Francisco score. The 49ers then scored on their next possession and took the lead for good. But bigger problems hampered the Eagles: LeSean McCoy just can't get going, and quarterback Nick Foles was erratic all game. Foles engineered one good drive, but it ended just shy of the end zone. And his last-ditch effort ended with an interception. You don't want to downgrade coach Chip Kelly too much after one loss, but this was worrisome. This was a playoff-caliber opponent on the road - the kind of game you have to win in January - and the Eagles seemed overwhelmed at times, despite the close score. - Phil Sheridan

5. Arizona Cardinals (3-0)

Last Week: 6th

Best Ranking: 5th (Week 5)

No team, especially one that’s on a three-game winning streak, wants to curtail momentum this early in the season, but Arizona doesn't have a choice. And while the Cardinals hope to continue their winning ways in October, their bye this weekend may be coming at the right time. The Cardinals will be able to rest a slew of injured players while letting others recover from minor bumps and bruises. Following the bye week, Arizona has 13 straight weeks of games with just one long weekend included - a Thursday night game at St. Louis on Dec. 11. The extra time will rejuvenate Arizona for the final two games, against Seattle and San Francisco, but until then, Arizona has a grinding stretch of 11 straight weeks. - Josh Weinfuss

4. San Diego Chargers (3-1)
Last Week: 5th
Best Ranking: 4th (Week 5)
The Chargers did what they were supposed to do and overwhelmed winless Jacksonville to move to 3-1 on the season. Receivers Eddie Royal and Keenan Allen had big days, as did quarterback Philip Rivers, who completed 29 of 39 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns. It's the most Rivers has thrown in a game since a 392-yard passing performance in a 41-38 win Nov. 24, 2013 at Kansas City. But heading into Sunday the Chargers averaged a league-worst 2.43 rushing yards per carry and San Diego's issues running the football continued against Jacksonville, as they finished with just 42 yards on 20 carries. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich abandoned the run for the most part in the second half and used swing passes and screens to get his running backs in open space. - Eric D. Williams

3. Cincinnati Bengals (3-0)

Last Week: 3rd

Best Ranking: 3rd (Week 5, 4)

With such a strong start to the season followed by an awkwardly early bye-week last week, there are reasons the Bengals could be a little concerned about this week's game. Among the biggest concerns is a stalling of momentum. So last week the Bengals spent one day on the practice fields, primarily using their brief time around the stadium to evaluate themselves. After three weeks and three convincing wins, there may not appear to be much they need to fix, but players and coaches would claim otherwise. There are some offensive tweaks they'll have to make in order to better finish drives in the end zone. There are others still that have to be made to get the running backs bursting bigger gains than they have to this point in the young season. There are some defensive fixes the Bengals also want to make in an effort of ensuring the pressure remains aggressive. - Coley Harvey

2. Denver Broncos (2-1)
Last Week: 2nd
Best Ranking: 1st (Week 3)
The Broncos formally concluded their bye week early Monday morning when the players arrived to start what is now a run of 13 consecutive football weeks to close out the regular season. Among their next five games, the Broncos have the Cardinals (3-0), the 49ers (2-2), the Chargers (3-1) and the Patriots (2-1). The Chargers game in that grouping is on a Thursday night, in Denver, which is exactly the scenario from 2013 when the Broncos openly complained about a short week and then lost to the Chargers on a Thursday night in Denver. The Broncos have said they’re better than last season, said they’ve seen plenty of good things already in a 2-1 start, and said they want another shot at the title when all is said and done. But to prove any of that true, they will have to be the best team in a competitive division, a conclusion that's anything but settled. - Jeff Legwold

1. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)

Last Week: 1st

Best Ranking: 1st (Week 5, 4, 2, 1, Post-Draft)

The Seahawks may have seen some ways on Thursday night to control the pass rush of their next oppopent, the Washington Redskins, which is important since Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson was sacked or under duress on 45% of his dropbacks against Denver last weekend. It was the most for any game in his three-year career, including the playoffs. By comparison, Wilson was sacked or under duress on only five of his dropbacks in the Super Bowl last year (18.5%). Overall this season, he has been sacked or under duress on 37.1% of his dropbacks, second worst in the league. Entering Thursday against the Giants, Washington had pressured opposing quarterbacks an NFL-best 36% of their dropbacks, but only managed to pressure Eli Manning twice. Manning was 10 of 11 while targeting his tight ends Thursday, so if the Seahawks are confident they can protect Wilson without having to use the tight end to stay on the line and block, Wilson should be able to find plenty of open hands. - Terry Blount