2009 NFL Power Rankings: Week 6
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There's a top-five intruder in the Week 6 edition of ESPN.com's 2009 NFL Power Rankings.
The Denver Broncos, who began this season ranked No. 27, now rate No. 5 according to the latest poll of our experts. The undefeated Broncos vaulted three places after edging the New England Patriots in Week 5. The Broncos will have their mettle tested in Week 6 when they visit the No. 16 San Diego Chargers, who opened our regular-season rankings seeded fifth.
Entering Week 6 play, the top four teams remain, in descending order, the Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints. The Giants visit the Saints in this week's best clash.
Elsewhere in the poll, the Cincinnati Bengals surged to No. 6, up five spots on the strength of a victory over the host Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens, our leaders for Weeks 3 and 4, now rank No. 11. They can re-establish their claim for top-five consideration if they can beat the No. 3 Vikings on the road Sunday.
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[Editor's note: LW indicates each team's ranking in the Week 5 edition of the Power Rankings.]
| 2009 Power Rankings: Week 6 | ||||
| RK (LW) | TEAM | REC | COMMENT | |
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1 (1) | Colts | 5-0-0 | They're coasting into their bye week making a strong claim to being better than everyone in the league. (Kuharsky) |
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2 (2) | Giants | 5-0-0 | Eli Manning learned that the best medicine for plantar fasciitis is a Sunday with the Raiders. (Clayton) |
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3 (3) | Vikings | 5-0-0 | They seem to be growing stronger with each passing week. (Chadiha) |
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4 (4) | Saints | 4-0-0 | Just a guess, but I'm thinking Drew Brees will come out firing after the bye, re-establishing his MVP credentials. (Sando) |
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5 (8) | Broncos | 5-0-0 | The Broncos have silenced more doubters each week to the point where far fewer are around. (Kuharsky) |
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6 (11) | Bengals | 4-1-0 | Time for the doubters to shut up; the Bengals are pretty good. (Chadiha) |
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7 (10) | Eagles | 3-1-0 | Against the Bucs, Donovan McNabb got back into a passing rhythm with youngsters DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. (Clayton) |
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8 (9) | Falcons | 3-1-0 | Matt Ryan & Co. seemed like a playoff team during their dismantling of the 49ers. Take it as a good sign for Atlanta. (Sando) |
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9 (5) | Jets | 3-2-0 | Braylon Edwards already looks like a steal of a trade for the Jets. (Clayton) |
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10 (6) | Patriots | 3-2-0 | Tom Brady is out of sync with his receivers, but no secondary is more out of sync than that of the Titans, who are the Pats' next foe. (Clayton) |
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11 (7) | Ravens | 3-2-0 | Two tough losses and now a road trip to Minnesota? That's harsh. (Chadiha) |
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12 (14) | Bears | 3-1-0 | A 3-1 record, much of it produced without injured linebacker Brian Urlacher, is pretty impressive. (Chadiha) |
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13 (15) | Steelers | 3-2-0 | Rashard Mendenhall is making his case for a permanent starting job. (Chadiha) |
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14 (13) | Packers | 2-2-0 | They'd better have done something about their offensive line during their bye week. (Chadiha) |
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15 (12) | 49ers | 3-2-0 | The worst defeat at Candlestick Park since 1967 will force the 49ers to reassess heading into their bye week. At least Frank Gore is coming back. (Sando) |
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16 (16) | Chargers | 2-2-0 | San Diego comes out of its bye into a critical home game against Denver that could signal a changing of the guard. (Kuharsky) |
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17 (17) | Cowboys | 3-2-0 | The Cowboys have miles to go to play better football, but at least Miles Austin made Sunday's visit to the Chiefs profitable. (Clayton) |
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18 (21) | Dolphins | 2-3-0 | After beating the Jets with extensive use of the Wildcat, what's next, the wishbone? (Clayton) |
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19 (19) | Cardinals | 2-2-0 | One of these weeks, Beanie Wells will announce his arrival with a 100-yard rushing performance and a long-term spot in the Cards' offense. (Sando) |
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20 (24) | Seahawks | 2-3-0 | Beating the Cardinals at home in Week 6 would affirm Seattle's belief that the Seahawks can win the division with Matt Hasselbeck healthy. (Sando) |
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21 (18) | Jaguars | 2-3-0 | A complete dud in Seattle could allow them to show us how they bounce back from big adversity. (Kuharsky) |
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22 (20) | Texans | 2-3-0 | The Texans' never-ending identity crisis continued with their failures in Arizona. A trip to Cincy might be another tough assignment. (Kuharsky) |
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23 (26) | Panthers | 1-3-0 | Beating the declining Redskins isn't anything to brag about. Carolina still seems like a bad team trying to find its way. (Sando) |
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24 (22) | Redskins | 2-3-0 | Congress might have to hold a hearing to determine why the Redskins' offense remains in a recession. (Clayton) |
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25 (23) | Bills | 1-4-0 | Against the Browns, the Bills' no-huddle offense proved to be the falsest start of the 2009 season. (Clayton) |
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26 (27) | Lions | 1-4-0 | Don't let the record fool you. This is a better team. (Chadiha) |
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27 (25) | Titans | 0-5-0 | Facing New England at Gillette Stadium coming off a tough loss doesn't sound like a cure for all that's ailing Tennessee. (Kuharsky) |
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28 (29) | Browns | 1-4-0 | They had to win eventually, right? (Chadiha) |
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29 (28) | Raiders | 1-4-0 | A pathetic showing against the Giants showcased a starting quarterback who plays as if he isn't capable and doesn't care. (Kuharsky) |
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30 (30) | Chiefs | 0-5-0 | K.C. was undone by little-known receiver Miles Austin in a game when it had a great chance to win. (Kuharsky) |
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31 (31) | Buccaneers | 0-5-0 | The team that stood by Jerramy Stevens might add Matt Jones to the locker room? Not sure that's the right way to go. (Sando) |
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32 (32) | Rams | 0-5-0 | The offense showed improvement with 400 yards and 27 first downs against the Vikings in Week 5, even though some yardage was in garbage time. (Sando) |
| Glossary |
| The rankings were determined by a poll of four voters on ESPN.com's NFL staff: writers John Clayton (AFC East, NFC East), Jeffri Chadiha (AFC North, NFC North), Paul Kuharsky (AFC South, AFC West), and Mike Sando (NFC South, NFC West). |
