NFL power rankings entering Week 5 of the 2024 season (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): They may be 4-0 with an extensive championship pedigree, but their perch here seems increasingly precarious given their modest 5-point per game margin of victory and mounting personnel challenges – none more serious to date than the loss of WR Rashee Rice to a potentially season-ending knee injury. Now in the midst of a 20-game stretch with just one game, HC Andy Reid and Co. probably need this time, amid an especially frenetic schedule, to figure some things out if their bid for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat is going to ultimately bear fruit.
3. Baltimore Ravens (17): Their 0-2 start has quickly faded into the ether, last season’s No. 1 playoff seed quickly resurfacing as perhaps the league’s scariest outfit. After rushing for more than 500 yards the past two weeks, Baltimore’s 220.3 yards per game average is nearly 50 clear of the NFL’s second-most prolific ground attack. Yet this offense is dangerously varied and still seems to have room to grow, TE Mark Andrews yet to settle into his typically prominent role.
4. Detroit Lions (4): QB Jared Goff flexed his ‘Motor City Muscle’ with a near-perfect performance against the previously unbeaten ‘Hawks – becoming the first quarterback in 46 years to start consecutive games with at least 10 straight completions – as the Lions finally won what’s become their now-annual shootout with Seattle.
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5. Buffalo Bills (2): Sunday night was hardly the way you want to start a stretch of five roadies in seven weeks – and further exposed what had already been a problematic run defense. But a team that still owns the AFC’s best point differential (+39) despite a 25-point loss at Baltimore still looks very capable – and set up – to make near- and long-term runs. LB Von Miller’s suspension hurts.
13. Houston Texans (11): They’ve been outscored on the season and have struggled to beat three average-at-best opponents. Fresh off scoring his first career rushing TD, perennial Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs and his new mates are now going to run into a smarting Buffalo team – and that may be an awkward reunion for the wideout six months after his surprising trade.
17. Los Angeles Chargers (16): No player wants a Week 5 bye, but the Bolts might wind up reaping the benefits given their rampant injuries. And better rest up with only one home game between now and Nov. 10.
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22. Dallas Cowboys (21): If it was hard to get excited about this defense stabilizing in a win over the Giants, it’s even harder to get excited about it without its top front seven players, LB Micah Parsons and DE DeMarcus Lawrence, missing a chunk of the upcoming murderers’ row schedule (Steelers, Lions, 49ers, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, Commanders).
30. Miami Dolphins (29): Sometimes an offense runs better with an experienced backup – and sometimes, it’s just screwed up beyond recognition without its primary starter. Still time to get a quality stopgap, though …
31. Cleveland Browns (28): Does anyone need a change of scenery more than WR Amari Cooper, who leads the league with six drops? (Bide your time, Coop.)
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.