SLR’s Week 5 NFL Power Rankings

Sep 29, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert (11) warms up before the start of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4)

This team is losing by an average of 24.5 points per game, but they might not be as bad as they look. They’ve been stomped out by the 4-0 Seahawks, the 4-0 Chiefs, and now the 3-1 Colts. In Week 6, they head to Denver. There are no words.

31. New York Giants (0-4)

I feel no joy from the Giants’ downfall, but it does make me love the NFL that much more.  The dynasty teams are never guaranteed, and the cellar-dwellers (see: Kansas City) are never ruled out. The Giants won a Super Bowl two seasons ago. This is what parity looks like.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-4)

The Steelers have been in a very slow decline basically since their Super Bowl run in 2010-2011. They tried sticking with their veterans for a little longer than they should have, and now they’re going through growing pains in what they will probably refuse to call a rebuilding year. They’re too well-run to stay down for long, but chalk this season up as bottoming out.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4)

This team has a bunch of talent, but unfortunately very little of it resides at quarterback. The Josh Freeman saga is a mess, and the sooner they get him away from that team, the better off both parties will be. The bright side: Darrelle Revis looked like the Revis Island we’ve come to know in shutting down Larry Fitzgerald.

28. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3)

The Chip Kelly Offense ™ is really revolutionizing this team, and the entire NFL, isn’t it? They’ve had an admittedly tough schedule so far, but the defense is impressively bad, and the offense is nowhere near good enough to be getting the attention it’s getting. They run a lot of plays, (2nd in NFL), but are only 10th in scoring and dead last in time of possession, which means more time on the field for that dreadful defense. Compounding issues.

27. Oakland Raiders  (1-3)

They started Matt Flynn, and promptly scored 14 points against what was, statistically, the worst defense in NFL history through three games. There isn’t much more to say.

26. St. Louis Rams (1-3)

Sam Bradford looks worse every game, but they hang around because the rest of the team is talented, especially the defensive front seven. Cortland Finnegan, however, has had a nightmarish start to the season, and they can’t run the ball no matter who they give it to.

25. Washington Redskins (1-3)

The Redskins ought to continue to improve as Robert Griffin III continues to work his way back to health. That was a big game to get them in the win column, and because the NFC East is atrocious, they’re just a game out of first after a rough start.