NFL Week 6 Power Rankings: Lions, Texans continue surges

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• Primetime wins for the Patriots and Jaguars: Two potential ascending teams grabbed huge wins in primetime spots.

• The Ravens continue their freefall: The Ravens were blown out by the Houston Texans and now sit at 1-4. Is their season close to over?

Estimated Reading Time: 18 minutes

The power rankings below provide clear tiers on each NFL team’s market assessment, offering a comprehensive view of team standings and future prospects. All of the information below and more can be found in PFF’s power rankings tool, which is available with a PFF+ subscription.

It’s important to note that these rankings consider more than just win-loss records and playoff seeding. Factors like player and team-level grades, offensive and defensive efficiency, prior performance from past seasons, and strength of schedule all play a role. This is why teams with worse records and slimmer playoff hopes may rank higher than those with better records who have managed wins against weaker opponents or delivered inconsistent performances from key players.

1. Buffalo Bills (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 95%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 16%

The Bills were considered one of the best teams in football heading into Week 5, and a close 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots shouldn’t change that. Multiple turnovers plagued the offense for the first time since Week 10 of the 2024 season, and the defense allowed eight explosive pass plays. The Bills might have won this on another day, but they’re still 4-1 and have a 16% chance of winning the Super Bowl — the highest odds in the NFL.

2. Detroit Lions (Up 3)

Chance of making playoffs: 79%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 9%

Since their Week 1 humbling, the Lions have ripped off four straight wins, including a 37-24 victory against the Bengals in Week 5 that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. The team’s rushing attack didn’t prosper as effectively against the Bengals as expected, but the Lions still totaled 365 yards, and Amon-Ra St. Brown continues to dominate. His 90.5 overall PFF grade is second among receivers in the NFL, and the Lions are the current favorite to win a competitive NFC North.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 84%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 9%

And then there were none. Like the Bills, the Eagles dropped their first game of the season, losing 21-17 at home to the Denver Broncos. Week 5 was a strange offensive performance from the Eagles, who essentially abandoned their entire identity that saw them win a Super Bowl a year ago. Jalen Hurts had a solid game passing, earning a 79.7 PFF passing grade, but the Eagles collectively carried the ball 11 times in the game, with Saquon Barkley having just nine total touches.

4. Kansas City Chiefs (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 69%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 9%

The Chiefs fall back below .500 after losing to the Jaguars on Monday night, and naturally, there will be some concerns over the state of the team — but the Chiefs were just outplayed in the second half by the Jaguars. In saying that, if there’s one thing that needs to change, it’s the fact that Patrick Mahomes led the team in rushing again. Kansas City needs some more punch in the run game, whether that comes in the form of more touches for rookie Brashard Smith — who posted an 86.3 overall PFF grade against the Jaguars — or via a trade.

5. Green Bay Packers (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 77%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 7%

The Packers enjoyed an early bye week in Week 5 to end a quick spell of two games without a win. Through the first two weeks of the season, the Packers looked like a juggernaut on both sides of the ball. As of now, they’re a top-five team in EPA per play on offense, and 12th in EPA per play allowed on defense. That’s a potential sweet spot for a team capable of contending for a Super Bowl in 2025. Green Bay will return from its bye looking to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6.

6. Los Angeles Rams (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 65%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 5%

A tough beat for the Rams, who entered Thursday night as overwhelming favorites against a battered and bruised 49ers team. Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan always go blow-to-blow and give us a fun game, and it’s usually the team that shouldn’t win that ends up taking the spoils in these matchups. Would things have been different if Kyren Williams hadn’t fumbled at the goal line? Maybe, but c’est la vie. The Rams are 3-2, a top-10 team in EPA per play on both sides and remain a squad to watch closely down the road.

7. Washington Commanders (Up 2)

Chance of making playoffs: 55%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 4%

Welcome back, Jayden Daniels. The Commanders’ franchise quarterback stepped back into the limelight after missing two weeks due to injury, and immediately delivered an 85.9 overall PFF grade against the Chargers in the Week 5 win. It’s been hard to get a real reading of who the Commanders are through five weeks, in part because they’ve missed Daniels. But now at 3-2, they can hopefully start to build upon themselves as the season progresses.

8. Denver Broncos (Up 3)

Chance of making playoffs: 64%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 5%

A huge scalp for a Denver Broncos team still trying to find its place by handing the Eagles their first loss of the NFL season. The offense, buoyed by an excellent Courtland Sutton performance, did just enough, while the defense held the Philadelphia offense to just 17 points, sacking Jalen Hurts seven times. Sunday was a big day for edge rusher Nik Bonitto, who sacked Hurts three times while notching a 79.4 overall PFF grade.

9. Houston Texans (Up 8)

Chance of making playoffs: 48%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 3%

This was the Texans’, and C.J. Stroud’s, best performance of the season, demolishing the Ravens 44-10 on the road — but it’s still ludicrously hard to get a feel of what this Texans team is. The Ravens are depleted and started backup quarterback Cooper Rush, so this felt like a case of punching down. But, Stroud was still excellent, securing a 78.9 overall PFF grade and throwing four touchdowns. Now 2-3, the Texans enter a bye week before taking on the Seahawks in Week 7.

10. Los Angeles Chargers (Down 3)

Chance of making playoffs: 66%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 4%

After racing out to an early 10-0 lead, it looked like the Chargers would bounce back after a shocking loss to the Giants with a big win against the Commanders. Instead, they were shut out for the next three quarters and lost the game 27-10. Penalties, mistakes and turnovers hindered the Chargers’ ability to create positive momentum, and once again, Justin Herbert was consistently pressured  behind a battered offensive line. The Chargers are still 3-2 and have a 67% chance of making the playoffs, but their grip on the AFC West is lost.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 81%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 4%

What a performance from Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After five weeks and a 38-35 win on the road against the Seahawks, the Buccaneers are now 4-1 and, like it or not, there’s a conversation to be had that Baker Mayfield is the current MVP favorite. Mayfield registered a 92.2 overall PFF grade in one of the most hostile environments in the NFL. His connection with rookie Emeka Egbuka is driving the offense forward, even in a time when Tampa Bay is missing multiple offensive linemen.

12. Minnesota Vikings (Up 3)

Chance of making playoffs: 37%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 2%

It wasn’t easy, but the Vikings found a way to end their two-week stint in London with a win over the Cleveland Browns. The Vikings were missing a plethora of starters along the offensive line and on defense, but still managed to get the job done courtesy of a late Jordan Addison touchdown grab and now move to 3-2 on the season. As up-and-down as the offense may be, the defense still ranks second in the NFL in EPA per play allowed.

13. Seattle Seahawks (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 41%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 2%

Though they were on the losing end of it, the Seahawks were part of arguably the game of the season so far. Sam Darnold tore the house down again, throwing for 341 yards and four touchdowns while posting a 79.3 overall PFF grade. But the Seahawks’ defense, which has been excellent all season, struggled against one of the NFL’s elite offenses. Up next is a tough trip to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.

14. Jacksonville Jaguars (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 78%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 4%

Call this one a signature win for the Jaguars, who defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-28 on Monday Night Football. The Jaguars erased a 14-point deficit en route to victory, and as the season progresses, there’s more and more reason to have faith in this Jaguars operation. The offense still has its kinks to work out, but Trevor Lawrence notched a 75.0 overall PFF grade in the win, and the defense remains a top-five unit in EPA per play. At 4-1, Jacksonville is going places.

15. Indianapolis Colts (Up 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 72%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 4%

After a painful loss to the Rams in Week 4, the Colts could have folded at the first sign of danger. Instead, they brushed themselves off and took their frustrations out on the Raiders in Week 5, dismantling them 40-6 while finding success in all three phases of the game. Sure, the Raiders haven’t been good all season, but taking care of business in this manner is a reminder that the Colts could well be a team to watch in 2025. They’re 4-1, and their 81.6 overall team PFF grade is fourth in the NFL.

16. San Francisco 49ers (Down 8)

Chance of making playoffs: 75%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 3%

The 49ers, without just about any impact on offense aside from Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams, just keep on finding ways to win. Their 26-23 overtime win over the Rams might be their most impressive yet. Mac Jones, who compiled a 66.5 overall PFF grade, might not have been as prophetic as suggested, and there shouldn’t be any doubt who the starter is once Brock Purdy returns. But, he played out of his skin and helped propel the 49ers to an unlikely 4-1 start.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers (Down 2)

Chance of making playoffs: 78%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 4%

Incredibly, a Week 5 bye for the Steelers following their win in London only helped strengthen their hold on the AFC North. Sometimes, the best thing to do is nothing at all, as the Ravens, Bengals and Browns all suffered defeats in Week 5. Their struggles are the Steelers’ gain, as they now have a 71% chance of winning the division, and head back to action with two straight divisional matchups. They’ll need D.K. Metcalf, whose 79.6 overall PFF grade is eighth among wide receivers, to keep playing at a high level.

18. Atlanta Falcons (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 39%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 1%

The Falcons entered the week on a bye after defeating the Washington Commanders in Week 4. That in itself was a much-needed bounce-back from the shutout loss to the Panthers a week before. The goal for the Falcons coming out of the bye is to keep Michael Penix Jr. on the right track. He earned a season-high 84.4 overall PFF grade in Week 4, and returns to a tough matchup versus the Bills on Monday night.

19. Chicago Bears (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 21%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 1%

The Bears started to put together a good little run of back-to-back wins against the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders prior to their Week 5 bye. The task now is to pick up from where they left off, and it starts with a Monday night road game against the Commanders. If they can do that, and Caleb Williams can continue to play well, the Bears will be in a good spot moving forward. Williams’ 75.0 overall PFF grade is 13th among quarterbacks.

20. Dallas Cowboys (Up 2)

Chance of making playoffs: 17%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The Cowboys’ offense is hot stuff. Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level through five weeks, and his 90.8 overall PFF grade is fourth among quarterbacks. The struggling Jets were next to feel the wrath of the Cowboys’ offense in Week 5, and Dallas has now scored 37 or more points in three games this season. At 2-2-1, the Cowboys face the Panthers in Week 6 and have the chance to close the gap on the Eagles atop the NFC East.

21. New England Patriots (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 62%

Chance of making Super Bowl: 2%

Drake Maye’s play all season has been indicative of a second-year quarterback who looked to have found a way to take the next step, but his exposure was low thanks to playing solely in the early Sunday slate of games. That changed on Sunday night in a primetime win on the road against the Buffalo Bills. Maye garnered a 79.7 overall PFF grade in the 23-20 win and impressed on the national stage. Led by their young star, the Patriots are now 3-2 and take on the Saints, Titans and Browns in their next three games. The arrow is pointed upward.

22. Arizona Cardinals (Down 2)

Chance of making playoffs: 10%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

After a 2-0 start, the vibes around the Cardinals have dissipated. Two straight divisional losses in Weeks 3 and 4 were bad enough, but the manner of defeat against the Titans in Week 5 is inexcusable. A week after watching Adonai Mitchell drop the ball before entering the end zone, Cardinals running back Emari Demercado repeated the same mistake, losing the ball before walking past the goal line on a 71-yard run. Ultimately, that mistake cost the Cardinals seven points and likely the game.

23. Carolina Panthers (Up 4)

Chance of making playoffs: 15%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The Carolina Panthers ran rampant against the Dolphins, amassing 239 yards on the ground, with Rico Dowdle rushing for 206 yards and a touchdown. Despite that, it was a close call for Bryce Young and Co., who once again had to fight back from 17 points down to get the victory. That just can’t continue. Young, who received a 68.2 overall PFF grade in the win, now has seven game-winning drives in his career, but just eight career wins. They don’t do easy wins down in Carolina.

24. Las Vegas Raiders (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 8%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

No one has disappointed more than the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025. With Pete Carroll, Geno Smith and a host of new faces, expectations were positive ahead of the season. But five weeks in, the Raiders are 1-4, and Smith is playing like a man lost in the weeds. Smith threw another two interceptions against the Colts in the 40-6 loss, and he leads all quarterbacks with 10 turnover-worthy plays in 2025. Stick a fork in the Raiders, because they might be done.

25. Baltimore Ravens (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 22%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The Ravens are 1-4 and sinking fast. Of course, they were without Lamar Jackson in the 44-10 loss to the Texans, but the Ravens’ roster is missing key faces all over and has a real hole to dig itself out of. If Jackson isn’t able to go in Week 6 against the Rams, the 2025 season — one that had so much promise — could be curtains. Even Derrick Henry, whose 53.2 overall PFF grade is 48th out of 50 running backs, is struggling. No one expected this.

26. Miami Dolphins (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 9%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The Dolphins are 1-4 after a late 27-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and it’s a defeat that feels potentially season-defining. At 2-3, the Dolphins could have easily been on the verge of putting the pieces together. But with the way the defense played — it’s currently dead last in EPA per play allowed — as well as the poor start from the offensive line, it’s hard to see this team turning it around in a hurry.

27. Cincinnati Bengals (Up 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 16%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The light is fading in Cincinnati. After starting the season 2-0, the Bengals have lost three straight games with Jake Browning under center, and now sit at 2-3. As of now, there’s nothing to suggest that they’re capable of fighting against the tide, unless the addition of Joe Flacco can give the team a boost. If that’s the case, there’s every chance that head coach Zac Taylor is on the hot seat. The Bengals’ 58.0 overall team PFF grade is the worst in the NFL, and they take on the Packers and Steelers in the next two games.

28. New York Giants (Down 2)

Chance of making playoffs: 1%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

After a strong NFL debut, Jaxson Dart and the Giants were sent crashing back down to Earth in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints. Dart recorded four turnover-worthy plays in the 26-14 loss to the Saints, but still showed flashes as to why the Giants drafted him in the first round. It’s early days, but there’s reason to hope that Dart can be the guy for New York. Surprisingly, though, the Giants are 28th in EPA per play allowed on defense. There’s enough talent on that side of the ball for the team to be better than that.

29. New York Jets (Up 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 3%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The Jets are now the only remaining winless team in the NFL following their 37-22 loss to the Cowboys, and so far, the Aaron Glenn hire has been an unmitigated disaster. There’s still plenty of time to turn things around, but the whole operation has been a mess. The Jets are fourth in total penalties through five weeks, and are in the bottom 10 in EPA per play on both sides of the ball.

30. Cleveland Browns (Down 1)

Chance of making playoffs: 7%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The Browns ran the Vikings close in Dillon Gabriel’s first career start, with the rookie quarterback compiling a 63.0 overall PFF grade while throwing two touchdowns. The defense, as always, has the power to drag any team down to its level; through five weeks, the Browns rank seventh in EPA per play allowed. Furthermore, the bulk of this draft class looks to be an early hit. There’s a lot to be optimistic about.

31. Tennessee Titans (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 4%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The Titans shocked the Cardinals on Sunday, grabbing their first win of the season while coming from 18 points down to do so. The win might say more about the Cardinals than the Titans, but we saw improved offensive line play from Tennessee — an area that’s been sorely lacking in 2025—while Cameron Ward earned a 68.0 overall PFF grade and showed off some exceptional arm talent. If anything, a win on the board is good for morale.

32. New Orleans Saints (No change)

Chance of making playoffs: 3%

Chance of making Super Bowl: <1%

The Saints bounced back from an 11-point deficit to beat the New York Giants, securing their first win of the season in the process. It feels like just rewards for the Saints — who, though they were winless heading into the week, have generally been playing hard, and ran the Bills close a week ago. Sunday featured another strong performance from Spencer Rattler, who posted a 72.6 overall PFF grade in the win.

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