NFL power rankings roundup for Week 6: 49ers, Bills tumble following tough losses

Admin October 10, 2024

We’re well into the 2024 NFL season now. We’ve had a few international games with one more coming up this weekend. We’ve seen stars go down and make their way back onto the field just a few weeks later. We’ve seen surprise teams like the Minnesota Vikings take the league by storm, and we’ve seen disaster teams like the Cleveland Browns fall apart less than a year after reaching the postseason.

We mostly understand who the best teams in the league are currently, but there is still plenty of time for an underperforming team to make a run and squeeze into the postseason. There is also plenty of time for a great team to fall apart, crushing their fans’ hopes. One key injury here, an unlucky bounce there, and all of a sudden, that 3-2 season could turn into 3-5, making you wonder whether or not your team should tank for Travis Hunter. But you can cross that bridge once you get there.

Here’s what NFL experts from around the internet are saying about the best (and worst) teams as we head into Week 6.

NEW YORK JETS: New coach Jeff Ulbrich puts Todd Downing, not Nathaniel Hackett, in charge of offense

Nate Davis, USA Today: Atlanta bursts into the top-5

After a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the national spotlight on Thursday, it’s no wonder the Atlanta Falcons have captured the hearts of many an analyst. Davis writes, “QB Kirk Cousins might be one questionable non-call against K.C. from being 3-0 in prime time with ATL.”

That is true. However, Davis also points out that the Falcons have been much worse when not playing in primetime, and the Falcons only have one more primetime game scheduled all season – Week 14 at Minnesota. Atlanta will need a little more consistency, and perhaps a huge win over another strong contender, before people start putting them down as Super Bowl favorites.

USA TODAY’s TOP 10:

Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota Vikings
Baltimore Ravens
Detroit Lions
Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders
Houston Texans
Philadelphia Eagles
Green Bay Packers

NFL power rankings Week 6: Commanders among rising teams led by rookie quarterback

Eric Edholm, NFL.com: Vikings maintain top spot

Edholm appears to be a bit of a contrarian. Given that the Kansas City Chiefs have won two consecutive Super Bowls, many people would consider them the favorites yet again. At the very least, their undefeated record should keep them at the top of the power rankings, right? Not according to Edholm. He has the Minnesota Vikings, the NFL’s only other undefeated team, in the top spot.

Edholm writes, “The bye week would have felt a lot different had the Vikings somehow coughed up Sunday’s game in London after jumping out to a 17-0 lead. But as shaky as things got, all three phases contributed in a notable way to the 23-17 victory over the Jets, pushing the dream start of this campaign to 5-0.”

Edholm admits that this was the worst the Vikings have looked all season, especially quarterback Sam Darnold. However, he acknowledged that Darnold was still able to make big throws late and the Vikings stayed cool against one of the NFL’s top defenses even in unfamiliar territory.

NFL.com’s TOP 10:

Minnesota Vikings
Kansas City Chiefs
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Baltimore Ravens
Washington Commanders
Buffalo Bills
Green Bay Packers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pittsburgh Steelers

Josh Kendall, The Athletic: Lions outside the top-5

The Detroit Lions were one of the best teams in the NFL a year ago and have not disappointed to start off 2024. That didn’t stop Kendall from placing them outside the top-five teams in the league heading into Week 6. The argument is that while the Lions were on bye in Week 5, several of the other best teams in the league were able to strut their stuff, offering more to go off of than the Lions have currently.

Kendall writes, “The Lions have managed to settle at sixth in these rankings in part because of their offensive balance.” He goes on to explain that said balance is not as great as he’d like. A win over the Dallas Cowboys this weekend could send Detroit rocketing back up the rankings next week.

THE ATHLETIC’S TOP 10:

Minnesota Vikings
Kansas City Chiefs
Baltimore Ravens
Houston Texans
Washington Commanders
Detroit Lions
Buffalo Bills
Green Bay Packers
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons

Thomas Valentine, Pro Football Focus: Sub-.500 49ers still top-2

The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments to start the season. Through five weeks, they sit at a miserable 2-3, with an 0-2 record in the NFC West. However, that hasn’t stopped Valentine from ranking the 49ers second in the NFL, behind only the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Niners have gotten out to slow starts before and turned out alright. Just last year, they may have started out 5-0 but wound up losing three straight games to push them to 5-3 before their bye. In 2022, they were 3-4 to start the season but ended up reaching the NFC championship game. In 2021, they were 2-4 and still reached the NFC championship game. So, there is still a lot of reason for optimism in the Bay Area. As Valentine points out, the Niners still have a top-ten offense and defense in terms of EPA per play.

PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS’ TOP 10: