-- Courtney Cronin, The passing offense has been a disappointment, which highlights myriad issues: Cam Newton's inaccuracy on short passes, a major void at tight end (the Patriots rank last in the NFL in production from that spot) and a receiving corps that hasn't been respected by opposing defenses and thus allows foes to load up against the run. Sometimes a loss can feel like a win. --Nick Wagoner, Defensive efficiency:51.0 So, let's get to it. The Eagles are 5-0 for just the third time in franchise history. But instead it was Mahomes lighting up the Eagles' vaunted defense -- the top-ranked pass defense in the league -- in the second half. The winds of change continue to howl on the NFL Power Rankings as we near the midpoint of the 2022 season. The biggest issue on defense is the pass rush. Find NFL defense rushing stats by team. Welcome to Week 5 of the NFL regular season. A week after getting pushed around by the Jared Goff-led Lions, it was the Saints turn -- Taysom Hill (accounted for four touchdowns) and Alvin Kamara (194 total yards) did pretty much whatever they wanted in a 39-32 Seattle loss. This season, Baltimore defenders are making it too easy with missed assignments and no consistent pass rush. Get updated NFL defense rankings for the 2022 season. Could the Raiders turn the backfield over to RB Zamir White? There is a lot of young talent on the roster. They will sign one -- likely Jones -- and tag the other. Here's the weird part: It's not because of the pass rush. Unfortunately for Atlanta, a flag (for unnecessary roughness) was thrown on Grady Jarrett's pivotal fourth-quarter sack, and the opportunity to complete a stirring comeback was taken from Arthur Smith's bunch. Minnesota can't afford for its kicking issues to continue after its playoff chances took a massive hit against Tampa Bay. In this edition of the NFL Power Rankings, the Giants and Jets soar to new heights, while the Buccaneers and Panthers tumble down the board. What will define Eric Bieniemy's success. I trust the Chiefs, because of the guy on the sideline and the dude under center. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File) There are usually three schools of thought when . Kansas City owns the most efficient offense in the NFL with . To say the Raiders have struggled on the defensive side of the ball in the previous decade is a bit of an understatement. 2021 FANTASY FOOTBALL D/ST RANKINGS: WEEK 17. The Seahawks are an entertaining team, but a consistently overmatched defense might stop them from being anything more than that. The results were as one-sided as you might expect: a 38-3 Bills victory that put Buffalo back in sole possession of first place in the AFC East. Dallas Cowboys (at Rams) The one to note here is the Cowboys they're on the road in LA, but that pass rush is so good! They're currently sixth in the league in that category. Los Angeles' defense, which ranked second in Football Outsiders' rush DVOA going into the Week 4 matchup, ranks significantly worse against the pass (23rd in the NFL). CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND "I'm not going to say dynasty yet, we're not done," Mahomes said. League rank: 22nd. We hope the Ravens and their fans never take for granted the unprecedented greatness of Justin Tucker. --Courtney Cronin, Defensive efficiency: 54.3 Veteran Randy Bullock was benched in favor of Austin Seibert for the Bengals' Week 14 loss to the Cowboys. Can't say I'm totally on board with the Never Cover Travis Kelce strategy deployed by the Raiders on the goal line, but the Chiefs weren't complaining after their star tight end gobbled up all four of Patrick Mahomes' short touchdown passes in a 30-29 prime-time win at Arrowhead. The biggest issue on defense is the run defense. Mike Tomlin didnt mince words after the game. Take a look at ESPN's thoughts on . Another mistake-laden loss would likely derail the Vikings' playoff hopes. After two straight losses, New England will probably look at this game as a chance to get right before a crucial division . The biggest issue on defense is forcing turnovers. The Colts have dropped a bit because they've struggled in giving up yards. Defense: 32 That's why the Chiefs end the season as the top-ranked team in my Power Rankings and will be No. As if getting gashed by Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon wasn't enough to have the Bears licking their wounds after a Week 2 loss at Green Bay, Giants running back Saquon Barkley totaled 145 yards on 31 carries and earned 94 of his rushing yards after first contact in Week 4. Previous rank: No. It might work against the quarterbacks they faced, but life is about to get much more difficult with Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence and Geno Smith on deck. 2. The Rams were without cornerbacksTroy Hill(IR),David Long Jr. andCobie Duranton Monday night against the 49ers, although they did get safetyJordan Fullerback. A few other popular sleeper defenses that you might have drafted late are definitely off limits in Week 1 . Unfortunately, that hasn't helped the team win. Mix in a special-teams unit that features the league's most efficient returner in Andre Roberts, and you've got a team ready to make a deep playoff run. ThePats are a Week 6 win over the Browns away from getting back to even ground at .500. Since the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year tore his pectoral at the end of regulation in Week 1, the Steelers have given up an average of 23 points per game and recorded just three total sacks. FPts: The number of fantasy points that our model predicts a player will score this season, based on the selected scoring system. League rank: 24th. The Seahawks are getting gashed against the run, in part because they're struggling in their transition to a 3-4 but also because they're missing tackles. "We've got a great team, great locker room. Neither has a sack this season. New England Patriots (vs. Jaguars) The Patriots have routinely destroyed rookie quarterbacks under Bill Belichick and Trevor Lawrence has been a turnover machine this season. Philly's first loss of the season . Dan Hanzus updates his Power Rankings, with a notable boost for the surging Green Bay Packers. Injuries have impacted the defense at times, but it has kept the Cardinals in games as the offense continues to figure itself out. Opponent Punts per Play. Got that, too. On paper, the Packers would appear to have a dominant defense. "To be a championship team and a playoff team," waxed Raiders coach Jon Gruden, "you have to be a good football team in all phases." Guess we just need to sit back, eat some popcorn and wait for it to make sense. Mosley. The biggest issue on defense is getting gouged on the ground, again. The Bears spent most of the season struggling to score points, run the football or convert on third down. The Kansas City Chiefs are champions after Super Bowl LVII. Aaron Rodgers leads list of players on the fantasy football hot seat for 2023, Fantasy football season recap, key stats and look ahead to 2023, Fantasy football 2023 offensive depth charts, Fantasy football 2023 defensive depth charts, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. -- Rob Demovsky, The Bills' offense is a complete turnaround from last season's anemic unit, as Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs have combined to form one of the most potent QB-WR duos in the NFL. If the 49ers' defense can stay reasonably healthy, they don't need an offensive juggernaut to be a contender. Even though this team has just four wins, Herbert has saved the season and given Chargers fans something to look forward to next season. With an Eagles team that runs the ball effectively in their division, the Cowboys have to get better. Seattle's special teams have been strong the whole time, led by Jason Myers going 18-for-18 on field goal tries. --Kevin Seifert, Defensive efficiency: 76.1 How far do the Vikings and Jets fall? Now they have to grow the offense around him as they push to be a playoff team. Speaking of five weeks, that's how long it took the Giants to match their win total from 2021. In the fourth quarter, opposing quarterbacks have posted an NFL-best 88.6 QBR against the Ravens, throwing five touchdowns and getting sacked twice. The Dolphins have gotten a defensive player of the year-caliber season out of cornerback Xavien Howard (league-high nine interceptions) and Pro Bowl-caliber seasons from edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah, returner Jakeem Grant and kicker Jason Sanders. In his Championship Sunday Power Rankings, Dan Hanzus reveals a new pecking order for the four teams still alive in the NFL playoffs, while also slotting the quartet eliminated during the Divisional Round. WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS: Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | Kicker. The biggest issue on defense is stopping the run. With the Falcons officially eliminated from playoff contention, it's time to turn the focus to 2021 and potentially moving on at quarterback while retooling other areas of the roster. Seattle's defense has turned things around, albeit against some dreadful offenses. See trending; Company. The former Super Bowl champion is an ESPN analyst who is excited about Branch. "I think he's doing everything he can. Make Your Picks, The Falcons have lost six games by a touchdown or less, in large part because their defense has struggled in the red zone (29th of 32 teams) and can't consistently force late-game stops. Bills, Titans, Bengals, and Ravens this week all have a claim for the best team in the AFC. From 2010-2019, the team never finished higher than 20th in points per game allowed and often finished in the bottom five in the league in scoring defense. Penny is a talented player who cant shake the injury bug. New coach Sean Payton is one of the best offensive minds in the game. Check out the full league pecking order, 1-32. Defensive efficiency: 69.1. Jacoby Brissett is at the center of all the madness. On special teams, they might not do a whole lot in the return game, but Ryan Succop has quietly been among the league's more consistent kickers. That's the biggest issue. The concern now is they will be losing offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. They have to throw down the field more. Per Next Gen Stats, Tucker's 43-yard clincher quite literally split the uprights. The big offseason talk is whether they can land Aaron Rodgers. Check out the full league pecking order, 1-32. Will Brock Purdy come back from his elbow surgery next season? Wisconsin Badgers. Through five weeks, Pierce is fifth in the league in rushing, averaging aplump 4.8 yards per attempt. Discover NFL team overall stats and rankings throughout the season. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Garrett could return next Sunday following last week's single-car crash. Vikings opponents are catching 75% of their targeted passes, the second-highest rate in the NFL. Not only are the Packers allowing nearly 5 yards per rush, but they're having troubling bringing runners down. Opponent Third Down Conversion Percentage. League rank: 7th. --Rob Demovsky, Defensive efficiency:46.2 Those are largely the product of the many injuries, which have made it hard for San Francisco to string together victories and stay in the NFC playoff picture. TeamRankings.com is solely responsible for this site but makes no guarantee about the accuracy or completeness of the information herein. What's to think they can't keep this going? "I'm not talking today," Jarrett said after the game. Tennessee added outside linebackers Vic Beasley and Jadeveon Clowney to help improve the pass rush. 2 overall pick in Chase Young, that's how it should be. Its fair to wonder if Pittsburgh ends this rebuilding campaign with one of the worst records in football. The Titans' secondary hasn't helped either, especially when it plays off the ball, even in third-and-short situations. Eric Samulski breaks down all 2021 fantasy football Week 1 defenses (DEF) -- streamers, sits/starts, and D/ST waiver wire pickups to add. The Aaron Rodgers saga hangs over this team's offseason. A home game in good conditions against the winless Texans? Discover NFL team overall stats and rankings throughout the season. Defense: 13 Washington's defense ranks in the top 10 in both yards and points allowed; it hasn't finished a season that way since 2008. The biggest issue on defense is a banged-up defensive line. TheLions have been a mess on defense all season, but the offense was there to keep the team competitive and afloat. --Todd Archer, Defensive efficiency:74.5 We did it to ourselves.". Dallas' struggling offense managed three pass plays of at least that length. --Michael DiRocco, Defensive efficiency:47.3 League rank: 1st. New coordinator Brian Flores will bring a much more aggressive approach. We've dug ourselves a hole. Find NFL defense rushing stats by team. One thing that hasn't been good is the special teams, which are ranked at the bottom of the league for good reason. Across 17 games, Chicago allowed . Per NFL Media research, Rodgers finished 0-for-6 on deep attempts of at least 20 air yards. He was passed . Sundays 29-0 loss to the Patriots is what happens when Jared Goff and Co. dont put their best foot forward. Take Sunday, for instance: Cousins completed his first 17 passes against the Bears, leading the Vikings to touchdowns on their first three possessions while building a 21-3 lead. Only four teams have forced fewer turnovers, and all of them have losing records. League rank: 16th. --Michael Rothstein, Defensive efficiency: 42.4 That also has been a factor in the team's failure to convert seven game-winning or tying drives. They are committed to Tua Tagovailoa as quarterback, but now his health is the biggest concern. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Replied the coach: Were nobodys underdog. Indeed. Its been a mess, and now it becomes the responsibility of defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach Steve Wilks, who was elevated to interim head coach. The defense has been much improved from a season ago, but this is the next step toward being the type of unit that defensive coordinator Dean Pees wants to have in Atlanta. It's always that way with franchise quarterbacks. Bengals coach Zac Taylor needs to pop the hood on his offense and figure out why that's no longer the case. --Tim McManus, Defensive efficiency:57.9 The offense has been so bad with three-and-outs and turnovers that the defense continues to be forced back on the field. Its a shame, too, because Geno Smith continues to defy expectations as one of the NFLs best passers through five weeks. This was especially so when Denver was forced into its nickel package on defense and the Raiders then pounded away at it. -- David Newton, Relive the NFL's greatest games, original series and more. When the Bills start cooking, there's not another team in the league that can handle the heat emanating from their kitchen. Sunday's 26-16 loss to Arizona was a prime example as the Cardinals had the ball for just over 38 minutes to 21:25 for Carolina. In general, their strength lies in their depth and diversity. The Colts' defense thrived on takeaways last season, producing 33 turnovers. Cooper Kupp saved the Rams Sebastian Joseph-Day was brought in to help with rush defense. As the NFL Power Rankings get into crunch time, we checked in with our Football Power Index (FPI) friends to see how powerful each team really is. --Jenna Laine, Defensive efficiency: 52.3 The big offseason moves will be bringing back Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. See how each team defense ranks against the rest and see updated stats and rankings throughout the year. I believe we hit rock bottom, so now the only place to go is back up." That's been costly for a team that continues to lose close games, and fatigue might be a problem. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, Barnwell: How Jalen Hurts thrived Sunday, plus four trade destinations for Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts to Philly's rescue? Jalen Hurts showed on the biggest stage that he is their franchise quarterback. Its a start. The prime-time star was Stephon Gilmore, the veteran cover man who intercepted Russell Wilsonto thwart one red-zone drive and broke up an end-zone pass in the final seconds to ice the game. The biggest issue on defense is a consistent pass rush. The Broncos had surrendered only six points in the second half of their first three games combined, so they were rolling. The biggest issue on defense is getting pass rush from someone other than Maxx Crosby.