There was a lot of gagging in Week 5 as Minnesota, Seattle, and Arizona let big leads slip away late in the game. Only Minnesota managed to get it together and not choke. The beginning of the second quarter of the season really helped to separate the good teams from the frauds. A lot of questions still need to be answered about the pre-season contenders (Kansas City, Carolina, Tennessee) and whether they need to be written off and week 6 promises to provide those answers. But without further delay, here are your Power Rankings.
| Rank (Pv) | Team | Record | Comment |
| 1 (1) |  |
4-0 | This Patriots team is so good it’s become really boring. Can the Seahawks please give them a good game? |
| 2 (2) |  |
4-0 | See above. Maybe Carolina can give this Eagles team a run for their money. But I doubt it. |
| 3 (3) |  |
4-1 | Absolutely destroyed the Raiders. Game was over by the half. Question is, where the hell is Marvin Harrison? |
| 4 (6) |  |
4-0 | Needed a come from behind drive to beat the lowly Buffs but still undefeated. |
| 5 (7) |  |
3-1 | Almost pulled a gag job against the Texans. Moves ahead of… |
| 6 (3) |  |
3-1 | …because the Seahawks actually did pull a gag job against the Rams. There’s no way you should lose with a 17 point lead in the 4th. Ruined a undefeated matchup in New England. |
| 7 (9) |  |
4-1 | Yet another RB steps up and produces. People are dropping Q. Griffin from their fantasy roster like he has leprosy. |
| 8 (12) |  |
4-1 | Beating the Cowboys in Dallas is impressive enough to move into the top 10. |
| 9 (11) |  |
4-1 | Who expected Pittsburgh to compete with a rookie in a division with Cinci and Baltimore? |
| 10 (14) |  |
3-1 | So much for that can’t win on the road thing. Does this mean the Lions are this good or just that the Falcons aren’t very good? |
| 11 (5) |  |
4-1 | I’m sure the Falcon will move back into the Top 10 sometime this season but for now they’re just second tier, even with that defense and Vick. |
| 12 (13) |  |
3-2 | You can’t expect your Defense / Special Teams to score 14 points a game. Kyle Boller, please get your head out of your ass. |
| 13 (15) |  |
3-2 | Great come from behind victory at a division rival’s house. Still won’t take the west but that was a good win. |
| 14 (17) |  |
3-2 | Have now scored 72 points in the last two games against two very good defenses. Is Drew Brees auditioning for the Green Bay job? |
| 15 (8) |  |
3-2 | It’s one thing to give up 24 to Manning and Indy but to give up 34 to Brees and San Diego? I thought this was the Ravens redux? Jaguars fading fast. |
| 16 (19) |  |
2-3 | Almost pulled off a miracle comeback against the Vikings. Carr to Johnson is damn fun to watch. |
| 17 (23) |  |
2-3 | Great win on Monday Night Football but against a Packers team that had no secondary. |
| 18 (10) |  |
2-2 | That was some ugly coaching out of the Tuna last week. Did Barry Switzer invade his body? |
| 19 (21) |  |
1-3 | Bye week moves you up when everyone else stinks. |
| 20 (14) |  |
2-3 | I guess when you lose a game you’re supposed to lose, there’s no change in ranking. |
| 21 (18) |  |
1-3 | Even without their top 3 RBs, they managed to give Denver a good game. Big test for this team against the Eagles next week. Lose and they are done. (Basically, they are done.) |
| 22 (16) |  |
2-3 | When you lose to Arizona and Tampa Bay back to back, you deserve to be ranked last. |
| 23 (25) |  |
1-3 | Well, at least they don’t live in Cleveland. |
| 24 (22) |  |
2-2 | Only offensive TD they were able to score was in garbage time. This whole team is garbage time. |
| 25 (24) |  |
1-4 | No defense and Favre magic is gone. Bring back Don Majkowski. Season over. |
| 26 (26) |  |
1-4 | Well, at least their defense is looking good. But wait, I thought Gibbs was an offensive genius? |
| 27 (28) |  |
1-3 | At least they didn’t lose this week. Which is more than I can say for the… |
| 28 (27) |  |
1-4 | who choked away a 16 point lead to one of the worst teams in the league. |
| 29 (32) |  |
1-4 | Holy crap! The Bucs’ savior is… Brian Griese? |
| 30 (30) |  |
1-4 | Very nice rally to take down the Cards. But the Niners are still a very bad team and now without their best player, Peterson. |
| 31 (29) |  |
0-4 | I guess they’re hanging in there but there are no style points in the NFL. Problem is they can’t even use the season to develop their rookie QB. |
| 32 (31) |  |
0-5 | I have to believe that going 0-16 is as hard as going 16-0. The Dolphins have to win a game somewhere down the line, don’t they? I’d hate to be that team. |