Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday,
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Falcons won the game, 35-14. Tork Mason/Green Bay Press-Gazette Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Atlanta and Carolina made the biggest climbs in NFL Week 4, both with decisive wins. Chicago moved past unbeaten Minnesota with backup Tyson Bagent at quarterback. Philadelphia, Detroit and New Orleans fell after losses, and Green Bay lost linebacker Edgerrin Cooper for the season in a win.
The San Francisco 49ers stay No. 1 in the NFC power rankings entering Week 5. They’re unbeaten, and a Sunday trip to Seattle could give them a two-game lead in the NFC West.
Here are our NFC power rankings entering Week 5, from No. 16 to No. 1.
MORE: Fantasy football PPR rankings for NFL Week 5: Puka Nacua is back!
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Prev: 16)
NFC power rankings for NFL Week 5: Big changes in NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) throws the ball against the Green Bay Packers | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Last week: vs. Green Bay Packers, L 17-14
Next week: at Dallas, Thu., Oct. 8, 8:15 p.m. ET
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels kept Tampa Bay close in his first start, but the Buccaneers are 0-4 for the first time since 2013. The Kansas product threw for 148 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and ran for 55 yards. Green Bay safety Evan Williams sacked him on the final drive.
Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed Daniels starts again Thursday, and Baker Mayfield’s recovery timeline for his dislocated right thumb hasn’t changed. “Every time we go forward, it seems like we’re going backwards,” Bowles said.
Tampa Bay has lost all four games by seven points or fewer. It’s still the conference’s only winless team.
15. Arizona Cardinals (Prev: 15)
Last week: at New York Giants, L 36-24
Next week: vs. Detroit, Sun., Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET
Jacoby Brissett had first-and-goal at the Giants’ 4-yard line with 22 seconds left and a chance to take the lead. He threw three incompletions. Then Deonte Banks intercepted his fourth-down pass and returned it 98 yards to end the game.
It was the veteran’s first three-interception game. Arizona also blew a 14-3 lead and gained only 138 yards after its first two drives. “We made some plays after getting stops, but you can’t have three interceptions,” Brissett said. Head coach Mike LaFleur answered “No” when asked about a quarterback change.
The Cardinals have allowed at least 30 points in three straight games. Their next opponent, Detroit, owns the league’s worst scoring defense.
MORE: Report card grades for all 16 NFC teams in NFL Week 4
14. Washington Commanders (Prev: 11)
Last week: vs. Indianapolis Colts in London, L 30-13
Next week: vs. N.Y. Giants, Sun., Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET
Marcus Mariota sprained the MCL in his right knee in the first quarter, the same knee he hurt in the preseason. Head coach Dan Quinn said Monday that Mariota’s timeline is to be determined.
Seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis finished 15 of 33 for 183 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his NFL debut. A failed fourth-and-1 handoff also set up an Indianapolis score.
Jayden Daniels has missed two games with a dislocated left elbow. He’s set to practice fully this week. “The goal is for [Daniels] to have a full week of practice and start on Sunday,” Quinn said. Right guard Sam Cosmi and safety Nick Cross are also expected back, but Washington drops three spots until Daniels takes the field.
13. New Orleans Saints (Prev: 9)
Last week: vs. Atlanta Falcons, L 45-24
Next week: vs. Minnesota, Sun., Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET
Atlanta ran for 205 yards and five touchdowns, and the Superdome emptied in the second half. New Orleans managed 50 rushing yards. Kendre Miller lost a fumble at the Saints’ 22-yard line, which set up an early Falcons touchdown.
Travis Etienne Jr. is on injured reserve until after the November bye. Alvin Kamara scored twice, but he couldn’t carry the ground game. “Our run defense did not show up to play early on,” edge rusher Cameron Jordan said.
Head coach Kellen Moore pointed to another slow start. “Again, obviously not coaching it well enough, not executing it well enough,” Moore said. The Saints have allowed more than 30 points in all three losses. They drop four spots before hosting a Minnesota defense allowing an NFL-low 12.8 points per game.
12. Green Bay Packers (Prev: 14)
Last week: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, W 17-14
Next week: vs. Chicago, Sun., Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET
Cooper tore his Achilles in the third quarter. Before he went down, he made nine tackles and a sack. His interception also set up Trey Smack’s 58-yard field goal before halftime.
“He’s a tough one to lose,” head coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper will take on more snaps. LaFleur also said Micah Parsons won’t practice this week, and running back Chris Brooks is getting more tests on his ankle.
Jordan Love threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon blitzed on Tampa Bay’s final three plays to protect the lead. The Packers climb two spots, but they’ll face Chicago with two starting-caliber defenders sidelined.
MORE: Fantasy Football biggest injuries entering Week 5: Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley & more
11. Philadelphia Eagles (Prev: 7)
NFC power rankings for NFL Week 5: Big changes in NFC South
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) reacts before a game against the Los Angeles Rams | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Last week: vs. Los Angeles Rams, L 24-20
Next week: at Jacksonville (London), Sun., Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. ET
Philadelphia led 20-10 with five minutes left and lost. The Eagles went 0 for 12 on third down, the most attempts without a conversion by any team since 2020. They’ve been outscored 31-0 after halftime over the last two weeks.
Saquon Barkley hurt his hamstring on his second carry and is considered week-to-week. Backup Tank Bigsby is headed to injured reserve after core muscle surgery. That leaves Will Shipley as the only running back on the active roster, and DeVonta Smith also missed Sunday’s game.
“I know he’ll do everything he can do to get himself back,” head coach Nick Sirianni said of Barkley. The Eagles fall four spots. Next up is a Jacksonville defense that hasn’t allowed more than 20 points in a game.
MORE: Week 5 fantasy football waiver wire FAAB: Will Shipley, Keon Coleman, Tyreek Hill
10. New York Giants (Prev: 12)
Last week: vs. Arizona Cardinals, W 36-24
Next week: at Washington, Sun., Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET
The Giants are alone in first place in the NFC East for the first time since November 2015. Cornerback Deonte Banks drew a pass interference flag moments before the final play. Then he jumped a fourth-down throw and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown.
Jameis Winston went 18 of 29 for 250 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in his second start for the injured Jaxson Dart. Rookie linebacker Arvell Reese added his first NFL interception and nine tackles.
“It wasn’t the most beautiful game, as far as playing perfectly: It was a winning game,” head coach John Harbaugh said. New York rises two spots. Its last two wins came against Tennessee and Arizona, though, and those teams are a combined 1-7.
MORE: J.J. McCarthy shocked by Giants trade, but the Vikings’ decision came months ago
9. Detroit Lions (Prev: 6)
Last week: at Carolina Panthers, L 32-26
Next week: at Arizona, Sun., Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET
Jared Goff threw for 412 yards, but Detroit lost because its defense couldn’t get off the field. Carolina scored on six straight possessions. The Lions have now allowed at least 30 points in three of four games, and they’re giving up a league-worst 31.8 points per game.
Head coach Dan Campbell shut down questions about defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s job. “I’m not talking about all that,” Campbell said. “I’m talking about getting better right now with what we’ve got.” He also pointed to a defense that forced no turnovers. “We got no takeaways. We have to get takeaways,” Campbell said.
Detroit drops three spots. Jahmyr Gibbs scored his seventh touchdown of the season, and Arizona’s defense has allowed 30 or more points in three straight games.
8. Dallas Cowboys (Prev: 8)
NFL: Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) sets the play against the Baltimore Ravens | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Last week: at Houston Texans, W 34-30
Next week: vs. Tampa Bay, Thu., Oct. 8, 8:15 p.m. ET
CeeDee Lamb caught a career-high 17 passes for 189 yards, including the 12-yard winning touchdown with 40 seconds left. It was his first NFL game at Reliant Stadium, about 30 miles from where the Foster High School product grew up.
Dak Prescott finished 32 of 45 for 335 yards without a turnover. The win tied Roger Staubach’s franchise record of 85 regular-season victories as a starter.
Dallas trailed 16-6 at halftime before scoring 28 second-half points, and Javonte Williams ran for three touchdowns. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer still saw problems in the trenches. “I thought they pushed us around a little bit up front,” Schottenheimer said. The defense allowed 397 yards to winless Houston, so the Cowboys hold at No. 8.
MORE: 2026 NFL MVP rankings after Week 4: Bijan Robinson makes strong case
7. Atlanta Falcons (Prev: 13)
Last week: at New Orleans Saints, W 45-24
Next week: vs. Baltimore, Sun., Oct. 11, 8:20 p.m. ET
Atlanta scored 16 points in its first two games. It has scored 80 in the two since Michael Penix Jr. returned.
Bijan Robinson broke a 59-yard touchdown run on the third play Monday night and finished with 145 yards and two scores. Brian Robinson Jr. added three short touchdown runs.
The Falcons ran for 205 yards and tied a franchise record with five rushing touchdowns. They also held New Orleans to 50 rushing yards. Penix went 15 of 20 for 223 yards and hit Jahan Dotson for a 31-yard score. “I thought Mike played well. He took care of the football, made some really good throws,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said.
Atlanta jumps six spots and now shares first place in the NFC South. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco come next, all in Atlanta.
6. Carolina Panthers (Prev: 10)
Last week: vs. Detroit Lions, W 32-26
Next week: Bye
Bryce Young completed 29 of 41 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns without an interception on Sunday night. Carolina scored on six straight possessions after punting on its opening drive, and the Alabama product now has a franchise-record nine touchdown passes through four games.
Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette were sidelined, so Young leaned on Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan caught 14 passes for a career-high 192 yards and both touchdowns. “Everything just clicked tonight,” he said. Chuba Hubbard added 20 carries for 122 yards and two scores, passing Christian McCaffrey for fourth on the franchise rushing list.
“Chuba ran with violence tonight,” head coach Dave Canales said. Carolina jumps four spots. Rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling (knee) and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) left the game, and they’ll have the bye to heal before a trip to Philadelphia.
5. Los Angeles Rams (Prev: 5)
Last week: at Philadelphia Eagles, W 24-20
Next week: vs. Buffalo, Mon., Oct. 12, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Rams outgained Philadelphia 415-172 but still needed two touchdowns in the final four minutes to win. Kyren Williams scored both. He capped a 98-yard drive with a 1-yard run, then broke tackles on a 7-yard winner with 1:17 left. He finished with 80 rushing yards and 10 catches for 67 yards.
Matthew Stafford threw for 317 yards with two interceptions. Puka Nacua returned and caught nine passes for 125 yards. “I think a lot of teams would have folded in those situations,” head coach Sean McVay said. “I think our defense kept giving us a reason to believe.”
That defense held Philadelphia to 0-for-12 on third down. Los Angeles stays at No. 5 because the comeback followed more than three quarters of self-inflicted mistakes. Josh Allen and Buffalo visit Monday night.
4. Minnesota Vikings (Prev: 3)
NFC power rankings for NFL Week 5: Big changes in NFC South
Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard (16) kicks a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins | Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Last week: vs. Miami Dolphins, W 15-10
Next week: at New Orleans, Sun., Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET
Minnesota is 4-0, though it went without an offensive touchdown in two of its last three games. Will Reichard made all five field goals Sunday, extending his streak to 31 straight. The defense held Miami to 10 points and is allowing an NFL-low 12.8 points per game.
Over the last three weeks, the Vikings’ special teams have produced 42 points and the offense seven. Kyler Murray completed 27 of 37 passes for 247 yards. He took four sacks from a Miami team that hadn’t recorded one all season. With Justin Jefferson out with an ankle sprain, T.J. Hockenson tied a career high with 13 catches for 119 yards.
“I did think Kyler got better as the game went on,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. Jefferson’s status for New Orleans remains undecided. Minnesota slips one spot behind Chicago until the offense scores more touchdowns.
3. Chicago Bears (Prev: 4)
Last week: vs. New York Jets, W 23-12
Next week: at Green Bay, Sun., Oct. 11, 1 p.m. ET
Bagent became the third Bears quarterback to win a game this season. He completed 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards with one interception, and three more of his throws were picked off on plays wiped out by penalties. Kyle Monangai carried 30 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Chicago outgained New York 492-157, set a franchise record with 34 first downs and held the ball for 42:45. It closed the game with an 18-play drive that ran more than nine minutes.
Head coach Ben Johnson ruled out Caleb Williams (hamstring) for a third straight game. “Tyson will be the guy, and we’ll go forward from there,” Johnson said. He added, “We put the ball in jeopardy too much.” On Monangai’s thumb injury, Johnson said, “We think he’s going to be OK.”
2. Seattle Seahawks (Prev: 2)
Last week: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, W 30-23
Next week: vs. San Francisco, Sun., Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET
Seattle forced four Chargers turnovers, turned them into 14 points and built a 27-6 lead in the third quarter. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu ended the comeback attempt by strip-sacking Justin Herbert with 54 seconds left, and Derick Hall recovered.
Sam Darnold threw an interception on Seattle’s first play from scrimmage. He settled in and finished 13 of 22 for 168 yards and two touchdowns, including a 23-yarder to Emanuel Wilson. Rashid Shaheed added a 28-yard touchdown run, his first offensive score as a Seahawk. “I thought Sam did a great job,” head coach Mike Macdonald said.
The Seahawks have scored at least 30 points in three straight games. They also committed 14 penalties for a franchise-record 150 yards. A win Sunday would pull them even with San Francisco in the NFC West.
1. San Francisco 49ers (Prev: 1)
NFC power rankings for NFL Week 5: Big changes in NFC South
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos | David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Last week: vs. Denver Broncos, W 24-14
Next week: at Seattle, Sun., Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET
San Francisco’s defense held Denver to three points through three quarters. The offense then scored three touchdowns in the second half. Brock Purdy went 19 of 30 for 218 yards and two touchdowns, including a 56-yard score to George Kittle late in the fourth quarter that made it 24-14.
Mike Evans played through a rib injury and caught five passes for 76 yards. “The way he was at walk-through on Friday, I knew how much pain he was in,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. Shanahan earned his 95th win with the franchise and passed Bill Walsh for the most games coached in team history.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk will miss a few weeks with a knee sprain and bone bruise. Safety Marques Sigle faces an extended absence with a high ankle sprain. The 49ers can take a two-game lead in the NFC West with a win in Seattle.
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Matt De Lima
Matt De Lima brings 15+ years of elite sports media experience to the table. From covering the gridiron to the hardwood, this Virginia Tech graduate has established himself as a versatile editor and writer for heavy hitters like Sports Illustrated and DraftKings. A twice-nominated FSWA finalist, Matt combines a digital-first philosophy with an eagle eye for breaking news, consistently delivering the engaging coverage today’s audience demands across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and beyond.
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