NFL Power Rankings – Week 5, John Crowe

NFL Power Rankings – Week 5, John Crowe

As we begin the 2nd quarter of the NFL, it looks there might be someone, or should we say something, other than the Chiefs that may have a bigger effect on the 2020 NFL season. That something appears to be COVID-19. After the 67 early opt-outs during training camp, there really hadn't been another huge effect until last week. In week 4, we saw the Titans and Steelers get postponed until week 7 while the Patriots and Chiefs were moved back a day (GoLocal Prov). As of Friday, the Titans are up to 23 players and team personnel testing positive while there are three Patriots having COVID-19 including Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore as its most visible victims. So now, there are more schedule changes ahead in week 5 and beyond.

Follow along. Reportedly, Gilmore had dinner with Newton the night before he was announced as testing positive for coronavirus. Gilmore played in the Patriots game in Kansas City Monday night before the news of his positive test forced New England to cancel practice on Wednesday. Of course, we’ve all seen the picture of Gilmore and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes getting close after the game on the field (Pro Football Talk). It’s contact tracing, NFL style.

Gilmore, in his defense on his Twitter account, said, “I’ve followed every protocol, yet it happened to me. Please be sure to take this seriously.”

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The Patriots vs. Broncos game, originally scheduled for Sunday at 4:25 pm, gets moved to Monday at 5 pm. The Titans and Bills, a battle of undefeated teams, will now be tentatively played Tuesday at 7 pm if the Titans can go two straight days with no positive tests. Since the Bills would now play on Tuesday, their Thursday night game against Kansas City is pushed back to Sunday. It's all very fluid and could see further changes or postponements in this ever-changing World.

Stay tuned to GoLocal Prov for all the breaking news! But for now, here's our intrepid week 5 power rankings.

Best of rest: New England Patriots (2-2, Last week: ranked 8th)

The Patriots are in dangerous territory now due to the COVID-19 absences of Cam Newton, Stephon Gilmore and who knows who else may be cast aside by the coronavirus and a future positive test. All we know is that Bill Belichick will have them ready to play each week. Whether they have the talent to execute a game plan to gain victories is another. Lurking for our best of the rest category is the Bears, who are now 4-1 after a Thursday night comeback against the Buccaneers but who get ousted this week by a couple of up-and-coming AFC teams.

10. Cleveland Browns (3-1, Last week: not ranked)

Who would've thought the Browns could hang a 49-burger on the Dallas Cowboys on the road huh? Rushing for 307 yards after seeing starting running back Nick Chubb go down with a knee injury is quite impressive indeed. This week, a quality test against the surprising 3-1 Colts.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2, Last week: ranked 10th)

If you count the pick-6 Tom Brady threw to the Chargers, TB12 had a total of 6 touchdown passes Sunday, good enough to make him NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. What's most impressive is that the Bucs rallied from a 17-point late 2nd quarter deficit and Brady is looking better and better each week. The Bucs lost a nail-biter Thursday night in Chicago as Brady what down it was on the Bucs final drive, losing 20-19. BTW: Nick Foles is now 2-0 vs. Mr. Brady.

8. Indianapolis Colts (3-1, Last week: not ranked)

The Colts defense ranked 1st in the NFL after giving up a stingy 236 yards per game through four weeks, is gaining tracks as one of the best in the league. They’re giving up only 14 points a game too. The question is whether Phillip Rivers and the offense can match up. If they can, watch out, the Colts will players in the AFC.

7. Tennessee Titans (3-0, Last week: ranked 7th)

It's a tale of two worlds for Tennessee. The Titans are 3-0 and atop the AFC South on one hand. But, on the other hand, they're 18 positive COVID-19 tests and counting and about to feel the wrath of the NFL's punishment for violating the pandemic policies after players had an informal workout during the time when the team's facilities were closed. That's a HUGE no-no. Tennessee already had last week's game against Pittsburgh moved to week 7 and now may have a week 5 match-up with Buffalo postponed even further than the Tuesday date or even possibly forfeited if they don’t get two straight days without a positive test.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0, Last week: ranked 5th)

After having an unexpected bye last week due to Tennessee's COVID-19 positive tests, the Steelers welcome Philadelphia to town. Pittsburgh’s defense, ranked 2nd in the league, should be licking its collective chops as it tries to add to its AFC North lead over the Ravens and Browns.

5. Baltimore Ravens (3-1, Last week: ranked 3rd)

The Ravens did what they had to do last week, beat a bad Washington team and put their lackluster loss to the Chiefs in the rearview mirror. They should be able to continue to right the ship at home this week against the Bengals. Beware though, quarterback Lamar Jackson missed a pair of practices this week with a knee injury according to the Ravens website. He’s questionable but expected to play.

4. Buffalo Bills (4-0, Last week: Ranked 6th)

OK, I'm a Bills Believer! Buffalo's undefeated, with a two-game edge over the Patriots in the AFC East and they look dominant. With Josh Allen tossing missiles effortlessly with his newest weapon Stefon Diggs, the Bills QB is maturing so that he doesn't need to run at all costs and force himself into bad mistakes. They are for real, throwing for the 2nd most yards in the NFL – 1326,  but there are speedbumps ahead and that starts this week in Cleveland against the burgeoning Browns.

3. Seattle Seahawks (4-0, Last week: ranked 2nd)

I know, you may think I'm nuts here. The Seahawks won again, on the road, in the heat of Miami and they drop one spot? Well, again, it was the Dolphins and to see Seattle actually struggle a bit to beat them is a troubling sign. Russell Wilson is still the MVP frontrunner, but is that all they are? He's not going to throw 5 touchdowns every week so others will have to step up as the opponents get tougher.

2. Green Bay Packers (4-0, Last week: ranked 4th)

Aaron Rodgers is looking like the gunslinger of old. No Davante Adams for the second straight week, no problems whatsoever! He just throws for three scores to tight end Robert Tonyan. While Green Bay turns into one of the COVID-19 hot spots this week, it also seems as if the Packers are turning into one of the hottest teams in the NFL.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0, Last week: ranked 1st)

What else can you say about the Chiefs? Sure, at times, they look contained and then seven seconds later, they've scored twice against the Patriots. Bill Belichick's game plan kept Patrick Mahomes down for the majority of the game, but it didn't stop him enough to win the game. That 26-10 victory almost looked pedestrian. Right now, there's the Chiefs and then there's everyone else in the AFC.

Last week:
Best of rest: 49ers, Cardinals
10. Buccaneers
9. Bears
8. Patriots
7. Titans
6. Bills
5. Steelers
4. Packers
3. Ravens
2. Seahawks
1. Chiefs