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NFL power rankings heading into Week 5 of the 2024 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): They may be 4-0 with an extensive championship history, but given their modest 5-point margin of victory and increasing personnel changes, their place here seems increasingly precarious – nothing more serious so far than the loss of WR Rashee Rice a potential season-ending knee injury. Now, in the midst of a 20-game, one-game stretch, given this year's hectic schedule, HC Andy Reid and Co. probably need the time to figure out if their bid for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat will bear fruit .

2. Minnesota Vikings (3): Given the unexpected rise of the Vikes, this feels precarious for a variety of reasons. But their 4-0 record is no coincidence, nor is the MVP eligibility – seriously – of QB Sam Darnold, who is now the first player in the league's long history to win his first four games with one team and threw several touchdown passes each. They will next appear in their first national television window – on London's international stage on Sunday morning.

3. Baltimore Ravens (17): Their 0-2 start quickly evaporated, and last season's No. 1 seed in the playoffs quickly became perhaps the scariest team in the league again. After rushing for over 500 yards in the last two weeks, their 220.3 yards per game average is nearly 50 ahead of the NFL's second-most productive ground attack. But its offense is varied and still appears to have room for growth, with TE Mark Andrews still having to settle into his typical standout role.

4.Detroit Lions (4): Showing his Motor City Muscle, QB Jared Goff had a near-perfect night – becoming the first quarterback in 46 years to start consecutive games with at least 10 consecutive completions – as the Lions finally won a shootout with Seattle.

5. Buffalo Bills (2): Sunday night was hardly the start of a stretch of five roadies in seven weeks – and exposed once again what was already a problematic run defense. But a team that still owns the AFC's point margin (+39) despite a 25-point loss in Baltimore still appears very capable – and positioned – to achieve short- and long-term success.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10): The longtime NFC South leaders could gain an early edge from the competition with wins in Atlanta and New Orleans in the next two weeks. And the Bucs may have discovered something on the ground, as RBs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White each caught 10 balls for 49 yards in Sunday's win over Philly.

7. San Francisco 49ers (12): WR Brandon Aiyuk appears to still be in prep mode and is currently on track for a 700-yard season. Nevertheless, Sunday was a good game for a team that will only be on the right track with the arrival of reinforcements. DE Nick Bosa had a season-best seven pressures and LB Fred Warner made his first pick-six in five years. At least the Niners are in a stretch where they travel just once in six weeks, their next two division contests (Arizona, Seattle) followed by two against the handicapped 2023 division winner (KC, Dallas).

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (8): QB Justin Fields played his best game on the same day the defense played its worst. Perhaps even more concerning is the recent blow to the listing's O-line, RG James Daniels ended up with a torn Achilles tendon. At least the Steelers will only travel once over the next five weeks, starting against a Dallas squad that may be even more banged up.

9. Washington Commanders (18): Considering how well rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and Co. have played, it's easy to imagine this team sitting at around 7-2 midway through the season. But they could use more from the wideouts, none among Washington's top three yard producers or more than 200 yards in four games.

10. Atlanta Falcons (13): Did you know that WR Darnell Mooney leads them with 225 receiving yards, not including the crucial PI he pulled to set up Sunday's game-winning field goal? A reasonable way to win on a day when the offense didn't score a touchdown.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (5): A trio of inactive Pro Bowlers won't help the bottom line. QB Jalen also doesn't hurt the now chronic tendency to lose the ball, which is now almost two per week. As early as it is, Philly's Week 5 bye could be a coincidence.

12. Green Bay Packers (6): How good was new signing SS Xavier McKinney? He is the first player this century to complete a pass in his first four games with a team.

13. Houston Texans (11): They have scored fewer points this season and have struggled so far to beat three opponents who were at best average. Longtime Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs and his new friends just scored his first rushing TD touchdown and are now facing a tough Buffalo team in what could be an awkward reunion for the wideout six months after his surprise move.

14. Seattle Seahawks (15): Despite a defense plagued by injuries – five key players were out Monday night – they looked good in their first Division I game of the season. And they'll get plenty of home cooking in the Emerald City, which they'll only leave once in the next six weeks.

15. Indianapolis Colts (20): Sometimes an offense runs better with an experienced backup — and QB1 Anthony Richardson could benefit from some time to recover and watch Joe Flacco run HC Shane Steichen's offense.

16. New Orleans Saints (9): RB Alvin Kamara leads the league with 97 touches, 536 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns – quite a work rate from a guy who has spent most of his career in the backfield timeshare. He should be in the middle of the MVP debate.

17. Los Angeles Chargers (16): No player wants a bye in Week 5, but the Bolts could benefit from one too given their widespread injuries. And best rest with just one home game until November 10th.

18. Denver Broncos (22): An offense struggling with rookie quarterback Bo Nix seems to be getting most of the attention. A second-ranked defense that is nearly tight in the red zone deserves just as much.

19. New York Jets (7): Perhaps a trip to London and an offer to pay LB Haason Reddick in pounds would end his contractual stalemate? Or maybe a trip to London means better weather after the rain in New Jersey and proved capable of stopping the Jets' offense — or, as QB Aaron Rodgers said, “The weather sucked, but so did some of my throws.” Yes.

20.Cincinnati Bengals (24): According to Next Gen Stats, RB Zack Moss averaged 2.97 seconds to reach the line of scrimmage, the fourth-slowest in the league and nearly half a second longer than teammate Chase Brown (2.51) – so maybe it's not Surprise that Brown is averaging almost 2.5 yards more per carry.

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21. Chicago Bears (26): In case you missed it – and we did – TE Marcedes Lewis made remarkable history with Sunday's win.

22. Dallas Cowboys (21): If it was hard to get excited about this defense stabilizing with a win over the Giants, it's even harder to get excited about it without its top seven players, LB Micah Parsons and DE DeMarcus Lawrence, being a part of what lies ahead Murderer's Row missing schedule (Steelers, Lions, 49ers, Falcons, Eagles, Texans, Commanders).

23. Arizona Cardinals (14): Three of their next four games will be on the road against 2023 playoff teams – so the Cards better find a way to avoid giving up an NFC-worst 22.3 first downs per game.

24. Los Angeles Rams (19): How do you sum up their offensive woes? Injured WR Cooper Kupp still leads the team with 18 catches…despite playing about 40% of the snaps.

25. Carolina Panthers (23): They are traveling to Chicago this week. Better lock the hotel safes and stadium lockers, as the Bears will be looking to snag a win after already stealing WR DJ Moore and the No. 1 pick in this year's draft.

26. Las Vegas Raiders (25): They were the first team in 14 years to have two wide receivers who scored rushing touchdowns – and Davante Adams didn't even play.

27. New York Giants (27): The decision to let RB Saquon Barkley walk continues to look terribly old after they averaged 1.1 yards per carry against a Dallas D that had allowed five times as much in its last two games.

28. New England Patriots (30): RB Rhamondre Stevenson has fumbled once in five straight games dating back to last season. Keep up this terrible pace and he'll set a single-season record for a non-quarterback.

29. Tennessee Titans (31): Sometimes an offense runs better with an experienced backup — and QB1 Will Levis could benefit from some time to recover and watch Mason Rudolph run HC Brian Callahan's offense.

30. Miami Dolphins (29): Sometimes an offense runs better with an experienced backup — and sometimes it's just bonkers beyond recognition without its primary starter.

31. Cleveland Browns (28): Does anyone need a change of scenery more than WR Amari Cooper, who leads the league with six drops? (Wait and see, Coop.)

32. Jacksonville Jaguars (32): Despite their talent, they are 1-9 in their last 10 games – a mark that ended playoff hopes in 2023 and 2024 – but HC Doug Pederson is puzzled by questions surrounding his job security.

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

On By John Fenwick

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