JACKSONVILLE – Here are senior writer John Oehser's Week 5 2014 NFL power rankings. And we all know how important these are:
1.Cincinnati Bengals (3-0) | 1 | Open date had no chance against Cincy this week
2.Seattle Seahawks (2-1) | 2 | Seahawks matched Cincy score for score this week versus open date
3.Denver Broncos (2-1) | 3 | Running out of "witty open date" lines …
4.Arizona Cardinals (3-0) | 5 | NFC West best division in NFL yet again
5.Philadelphia Eagles (3-1) | 4 | Lost to a desperate team on the road Sunday. That happens
6.San Diego Chargers (3-1) | 6 | Oh-so-close to 4-0 – and playing like it
7.Detroit Lions (3-1) | 8 |Looking like they will be tough to knock out of first place
8.Baltimore Ravens (3-1) | 11 | Could be a season-long factor in a tough division
9.Dallas Cowboys (3-1) | 19 | Arrived at the season's quarter pole looking more real than usual
10.San Francisco 49ers (2-2) | 14 | Season-turning victory against Philadelphia Sunday
- Green Bay Packers (2-2) | 15 | Good teams in NFC North will beat each other up this season
12.Houston Texans (3-1) | 18 | J.J. Watt, J.J. Watt, J.J. Watt …
13.Chicago Bears (2-2) | 10 | Home loss to Packers puts them in an early-season hole
14.Atlanta Falcons (2-2) | 9 | Up and down again so far this season
15.Indianapolis Colts (2-2) | 16 | Digging their way out of 0-2
15.Carolina Panthers (2-2) | 13 | Struggling against a tough early schedule
17.Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) | 26 | Suddenly looking better than their ranking
18.New England Patriots (2-2) | 7 | Odd to see them this far down; odd to see them play this way
- Buffalo Bills (2-2) | 17 | Two-game stumble leads to change at QB; Kyle Orton Era begins
20.Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) | 12 | Loss to Buccaneers one of more stunning games of season
- Miami Dolphins (2-2) | 22 | Returning from London in better shape than they left
22.New Orleans Saints (1-3) | 20 | Season suddenly and surprisingly in peril
23.New York Giants (2-2) | 25 | Shedding the early slump quicker than last year
- Minnesota Vikings (2-2) | 29 | Teddy Time an early success in Minnesota
25.New York Jets (1-3) | 21 | A play or two from looking much better than this
- Cleveland Browns (1-2) | 23 | Still look like a team ready for jump
- Washington Redskins (1-3) | 24 | There is talent there to dig out of this
28.Tennessee Titans (1-3) | 27 | Long way to go in Whisenhunt Year One
29.St. Louis Rams (1-2) | 28 | Open date came at a good time. When doesn't it?
30.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) | 31 | Gutsy effort in Pittsburgh gives Lovie Smith first Bucs 'W'
31.Oakland Raiders (0-4) | 30 | Real trouble early in season for Silver and Black
- Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) | 32 | Defense must improve in a hurry to climb out of this
