Week 5 NFL Power Rankings: Bills soar past stagnant Titans, Steelers

22. Detroit Lions (-3)

This is what the Lions are until they prove otherwise. The are a team that is going to have a big day through the air, but who will probably struggle to cosistently dominate on the ground. Ultimately, they are going to be governed by how badly their defense gets beat and even against a limited New Orleans Saints offense the Lions failed to hold a double digit lead and coughed up this game.

At this point I don’t know how you can have the Lions in the “teens” of these rankings and what do you do with them going forward after the inevitable coaching change?

21. Las Vegas Raiders (+1)

The Raiders kept it very close with a Buffalo Bills team that I am really high on, and that is sort of their brand right now. Their two loses have been within a score and they have beaten the New Orleans Saints and a Carolina Panthers team that looks a lot better than I gave them credit for back in Week 1.

Are they a great team? No, but Darren Waller, Henry Ruggs, Josh Jacobs, and Hunter Renfrow are all very good on offense and if they can get three of those guys going in a game it is going to be a long 60 minutes for the defense.

Speaking of defense, Maxx Crosby continues to make his presence felt even when he isn’t getting sacks and they are a couple of pieces away from being a team that challenges the better competition on a weekly basis.