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The NFL Power Rankings bring some order to the NFL as teams head into Week 6 of the 2013 season. The Colts cement their position at the top of the rankings after winning what may be the highlight game of the season in Dallas.
The resurgent Packers (7) and 49ers (8) as well as the Bengals (10) make a jump into the into the top ten, where they replace the Lions (11), Titans (13), and Dolphins (14).
Nothing changes at the bottom of the table, where the Steelers, (29), Bucs (30), Giants (31), and Jaguars (32), settle in for a long, disappointing season.
RANK TEAM W/L
MOVE (LW)
1
5-0
Everybody and their uncle picked the Broncos to win in Dallas, the only question was how big the blowout would be. In the end, the Broncos eked out a 3-point win in a spectacular game against a Dallas team that matched the Broncos blow for blow in what may turn out to be the highlight game of the season. (OCC)
1
2
5-0
The Saints traveled to Chicago a day early to avoid a tropical storm heading towards New Orleans. That extra day was well worth it, as the Saints are now 5-0 for the first time since their Super Bowl season. Brees picked apart the usually dangerous Bears defense as he finished with 29-of-35 passing (82.9%) by keeping it short and sweet, going 25-of-27 on passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. (OCC) 
3
5-0
Chiefs coach Andy Reid is living the high life in Kansas City, far away from all the crazies in Philadelphia. The Chiefs' defense is for real, they have allowed the fewest points over five games, and even the offense is chugging along nicely, albeit aided by a +10 turnover ratio, the best in the league. (OCC)
4
4-1
Seattle CB Richard Sherman called Andrew Luck "an incredibly perspicacious guy" before the game. He was right: The highly touted Seattle defense couldn't control Luck, who engineered two touchdown passes and led the Colts on two time-consuming scoring drives in the fourth quarter for the win. Despite the loss, the Seahawks have now established that they need to be taken seriously on the road as well, not just at home. (OCC) 
5
4-1
The last time Andrew Luck faced Pete Carroll, Stanford put up 55 points on USC in 2009. On Sunday, Luck put up 34 points on the Seahawks. The Colts have now defeated the two teams everyone thought would own the supposedly superior NFC. For the SB Nation preview, I predicted Indy to be the surprise team to come out of the AFC. Is Luck ready? (KD)
6
4-1
Tom Brady went 1-for-11 on the final drive in the pouring rain with an INT on the final throw as the Patriots lost their first game of the season and Brady's streak of consecutive games with a TD came to an end at 52. (OCC)
7
2-2
The Pack took a week off, but still don't look in sync. Red zone woes are worrying the green and yellow, but it looks like they may finally have a running threat in rookie Eddie Lacy. The former 'Bama star raced for 99 yards in his return from a concussion and the added dimension should serve them well come winter. (KD)
8
3-2
Are the 49ers back? It sure appears that way after Sunday night's complete obliteration of the Texans. Two straight dominating performances have them looking back on track and just waiting for the return of their defensive leader Patrick Willis. (KD)
9
3-2
The question prior to the game was how Cutler would bounce back from what was probably the worst game of his career. Cutler actually had a nice game with a 128.1 passer rating, but the Saints just proved too much for the Bears to contain. The Bears have now lost their last two games after starting 3-0, but a game at home against the Giants on Thursday should bring them back up to .500 (OCC)
10
3-2
It's safe to say that the Bengals defense is for real, even if you can't bring yourself to believe in Andy Dalton. I wonder how good AJ Green could be with a legitimate QB? (KD)
11
3-2
Are there any questions about how important Megatron is to the Lions offense? He sat out, and the Lions could hardly transform a Reggie Bush-led offense to touchdowns. They lost for the 23rd straight time at Lambeau. (KD)
12
3-2
Joe Flacco turned in his second performance of the season with more interceptions than touchdowns, a common theme throughout his career. The Ravens still won, another common theme, thanks to a defensive effort most are accustomed to. (KD)
13
3-2
The Titans had yet to commit a turnover in four games, but that streak came to an end early in the first quarter. It turns out that Ryan Fitzpatrick is a serviceable short-term alternative to injured quarterback Jake Locker, but it wasn't enough to succeed against a very stingy Chiefs defense. (OCC)
14
3-2
The Dolphins have splashed down in the shallow end after an exciting soar to a 3-0 start. With no running game to speak of, deep to Mike Wallace needs to find a complement, somewhere. And fast. (KD)
15
3-2
Cleveland honored Jim Brown with a pre-game ceremony, and the Browns got their third straight win, to improve to 3-2, their best 5-game start since 2001. But the win came at a high price: QB Brian Hoyer is out for the season with a torn ACL. Former starter Brandon Weeden was the next man up and was able to lead the Browns to victory over the Bills. The Browns now face the Lions, Packers, Chiefs and Ravens in succession and will need some luck to be at .500 after that stretch. (OCC)
16
2-3
The Cowboys showed they could go head-to-head with the consensus No. 1 team, but lost the game in heartbreaking fashion. The pass defense is a major concern, but if your offense can hang 48 points on the best team in the league, you will win a lot more games than you'll lose. (OCC)
17
2-3
The Buffalo Bills lost another game, but that might not be the worst thing they lost Thursday night. QB E.J. Manuel will be out 4-6 weeks with a sprained LCL and WR Stevie Johnson had to leave the game in the third quarter. Buffalo gets 10 days off before facing Cincinnati next Sunday, and they are hoping to get CB Stephon Gilmore and S Jairus Byrd back for that game. But the situation at QB will be a hot topic this week. (OCC)
18
3-2
Once again, Carson Palmer shows that he has nudie pics of those in charge of football type things. 3 INTs and his team wins by double-digits. The Zona defense is for real, and Daryl Washington back from suspension means more games like this one: 7 sacks on the day. (KD)
19
3-2
Rex Ryan told reporters that he had talked with his brother, Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, in preparing for the Falcons, as the Saints’ defense did a great job of shutting down the Falcons’ offense in Week 1. In the end, what the Jets needed was Geno Guice! The rook came through with a great game-winning drive, his third of his rookie season. The Jets other rookie, Sheldon Richardson is playing great and man do they have a Folk'in kicker! The best team in New Jersey. (KD)
20
2-3
The Chargers couldn't overcome the latest NFL start in league history and couldn't build on their win over Dallas the prior week. Prior, get it? They lost to the Raiders and Pryor? Nevermind. Just like nevermind on thinking that this team was going to do anything in 2013. (KD)
21
2-3
The QB stat you'll hear all week, Matt Schaub has thrown a pick six in four consecutive games. The fact Texans' fans are banking on? Houston can financially get out of his contract after this season. Have they wasted the career of Andre Johnson? (KD)
22
1-3
Unacceptable loss to the Cardinals on Sunday brought about the Cam Face. A stellar defense that is getting no help from an offense with only two viable pieces. (KD)
23
2-3
No sooner had Chip Kelly said that his "approach to keeping players healthy is working," than Michael Vick goes down with an injury. The Eagles are technically in first place in the NFC East, thanks to a shiny 2-0 division record. Michael Vick's thigh injury might keep him out of the Tampa Bay game, although he might not be needed for them to return to the land of .500. Cowboys in two weeks. (KD)
24
2-3
The read option is alive and well on the west coast. At least I think it is. I didn't stay up to watch the game. Reports say that Pryor led two scoring drives to start the game off. Anyone else looking at Thanksgiving a little differently? (KD)
25
2-3
All the Rams needed was the Jags on their schedule to feel better about themselves. Bradford threw for 3 TDs, but still only averaged 6.5 yards an attempt against a really bad defense. The hope is that rookie Zac Stacy can add a running game to the equation. Or to have Jacksonville put on the schedule another 11 times. (KD)
26
1-3
Head coach Leslie Frazier has not officially announced who his starting quarterback is going to be, but he might not need to: Christian Ponder is reported to be out for 3-4 weeks at least with a "fractured rib near his heart", so Matt Cassel is the starter at quarterback until further notice. But will he continue to be the "hot hand" for the Vikings, and can he somehow salvage what's left of the season for the Vikings? (OCC)
27
1-4
It looks like the NFCS Winner's Curse will continue. 13-3 just a year ago, the Falcons defense can't seem to stop a runny nose. They took a late lead, but their problems would have just been masked. It's October and the Saints might as well have clinched the South already. (KD)
28
1-3
The Commanders had an early bye-week, and spent much of that time trying to fix their secondary, which ranks near the bottom of the league. Washington has cycled through four safeties already in the first four games, and will need vastly improved play from the position if they want to keep their season alive as they travel to Dallas on Sunday. (OCC)
29
0-4
Tony Dungy said last week that the Steelers defense "is old and doesn't have any playmakers". It doesn't help to have one of the lowest-scoring offenses either. The Steelers had a bye-week and will have used it to do some serious soul-searching about where this franchise is headed. (OCC)
30
0-4
The Buccaneers identified former QB Josh Freeman as a key source of organizational instability and released him last week. So what are they going to do about head coach Greg Schiano? (OCC)
31
0-5
"We are a better team than what we've been playing like," Eli Manning said last week. Yeah, right. The East Rutherford Football Giants have been outscored 28-105 in their last three games. According to Jim Rome, the Giants were "in the driver’s seat in the NFC East" heading into the game against the Eagles - but that car obviously has no engine and four flat tires. The Giants are a tire fire inside a dumpster fire. (OCC)
32
0-5
An entire team of "Just Another Guys" finally got their superhero back as Justin Blackmon made his season debut to the tune of 130+ yards and a TD. Unfortunately, it's still a team of Jags. They are racing Tampa Bay for Teddy Bridgewater which means the Giants are in a one-man slalom for JaDeveon Clowney. I'm sure Tony Romo is estatic. (KD)
Stay tuned here on Blogging The Boys as we'll bring you a NFL power rankings summary from around the internet later today, summarizing everything from solid opinions by some of the bigger names in football through some absolute head-scratchers all the way through a collection of stat-based rankings.
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