NFL: Eagles Rise & Lions Fall
The fifth full weekend of the NFL season is in the rearview mirror, and a pair of our writers - Charles Post and Caleb Henderson - are releasing their weekly rankings of the top-10 teams in the league. The Philadelphia Eagles ran all over the Arizona Cardinals, 34-7, to improve to 4-1. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions slipped to 3-2, with a 27-24 home loss versus the Carolina Panthers.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) (+0): The Chiefs have looked like the most complete team from Week 1, when they took down the New England Patriots and that was only more apparent in Week 5 when the offense looked unstoppable against the Houston Texans. Kansas City has a pair of MVP players in QB Alex Smith and RB Kareem Hunt, who will return home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 2016 playoff rematch this week.
Team MVP: Kareem Hunt (RB) - 609 Yards & 4 TDs.
2. Carolina Panthers (4-1) (+2): The Panthers were underdogs this past weekend, going into Detroit, but they looked like one of the best teams in the league on their way out. QB Cam Newton has snapped out of his dreadful year last season, and has his eyes on the NFC South title. In a couple of days, the Panthers will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football, and could separate themselves even more in the NFC with another big victory.
Team MVP: Cam Newton (QB) - 1,237 Yards & 8 TDs.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) (+6): The Eagles weren’t supposed to be this good, at least not yet, but QB Carson Wentz looks incredible in Year 2, and that showed mightily against the Arizona Cardinals in a blowout victory. They’ll have to deal with the Carolina Panthers this coming week, as previously mentioned, and if the Eagles can win that one too, then they’ll likely move up even more.
Team MVP: Carson Wentz (QB) - 1,362 Yards & 10 TDs.
4. Denver Broncos (3-1) (-1): The Broncos were off this past week after defeating rival, the Oakland Raiders, in Week 4 but they’re standing at 3-1, in second place in the division, and are continuing to keep pace just behind the Kansas City Chiefs. This defense is so great, one of the best in the league, and if RB C.J. Anderson and the offense can give just enough, they should reach the 10-win plateau. Denver has the winless New York Giants on deck. They should get another home win.
Team MVP: C.J. Anderson (RB) - 330 Yards & 1 TD.
5. Atlanta Falcons (3-1) (+1): The Falcons had a bye week in Week 5, following their first loss of the season to the Buffalo Bills on their home turf. What’s better than facing the Miami Dolphins after struggling a couple of weeks ago? Not much. This is virtually a lock for the Falcons to run away and move to 4-1. However, QB Matt Ryan has to get it figured out because he already has five interceptions, when last season, he didn’t throw his fifth pick until Week 10.
Team MVP: Matt Ryan (QB) - 1,109 Yards & 5 TDs.
6. Green Bay Packers (3-2) (-1): The Packers shocked the Dallas Cowboys on the road - again - what’s new? QB Aaron Rodgers is at his most dangerous in crunch time, and he proved that again on Sunday with a final minute game-winning touchdown. Green Bay can’t relax, though, because this week is another big game for them, as they’ll travel to face rival, the Minnesota Vikings, and it'll have affects on the NFC North race.
Team MVP: Aaron Rodgers (QB) - 1,367 Yards & 13 TDs.
7. New England Patriots (3-2) (+3): The Patriots righted the ship on Thursday Night Football with a five-point win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to reach a 3-2 spot. It’s not exactly what they were expecting following their Super Bowl victory last season, but the Patriots are still in a good position to win the division, even though they’re tied for first place with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. It’s their division to take - and they’ll take it. New England has a shot to take down the Jets this Sunday and going forward, it’s a pretty important game.
Team MVP: Tom Brady (QB) - 1,702 Yards & 11 TDs.
8. Detroit Lions (3-2) (-6): The Lions couldn’t complete their epic comeback attempt against the Carolina Panthers, after entering the fourth quarter down 27-10, before losing 27-24. QB Matthew Stafford has looked good so far, but it’s obvious that there is still another gear in him, and he has to hit that soon if the Lions want to reach 10 wins and grab a playoff spot. Detroit faces the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, a team that they’ve defeated three straight times.
Team MVP: Matthew Stafford (QB) - 1,116 Yards & 9 TDs.
9. Buffalo Bills (3-2) (+2): The Bills slipped up against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, but QB Tyrod Taylor and the team has actually looked pretty good thus far. And with wins over The New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and Atlanta Falcons, they’ve done enough to grab this ranking. The next couple of weeks are important for the team if they want an opportunity to reach the playoffs as they take on the Tampa Bay Bucs and Oakland Raiders.
Team MVP: LeSean McCoy (RB) - 279 Yards & 0 TDs.
10. Washington Redskins (2-2) (+2): The Redskins were last seen on Monday Night Football, when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 29-20, but their offense looks much improved this year and that bodes well for the foreseeable future. The NFC East is going to come down to the final few weeks it appears, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, along with the ‘Skins looking competitive. QB Kirk Cousins can’t let up in Week 6 as the winless San Francisco 49ers come to town.
Team MVP: Kirk Cousins (QB) - 1,004 Yards & 7 TDs.
Week 1 Top-10 - Dallas Cowboys.
Week 2 Top-10 - Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 3 Top-10 - Kansas City Chiefs.
Week 4 Top-10 - Kansas City Chiefs.
Player of the Week:
W1 - Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs) - 148 Yards, 1 TD, 42-27 win vs. Patriots.
W2 - Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 447 Yards, 3 TDs, 36-20 win vs. Saints.
W3 - Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams) - 292 Yards, 3 TDs, 41-39 win vs. 49ers.
W4 - Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) - 283 Yards, 4 TDs, 57-14 win vs. Titans.
W5 - Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles) - 304 Yards, 4 TDs, 34-7 win vs. Cardinals.
Photo Credit: Kansas City Chiefs & Sporting News.
